United Kingdom Various: Maxim Vengerov (violinist), Romanian National Philharmonic Orchestra / Sergey Smbatyan (conductor). Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 27.11.2022. (GT)
Sibelius – Karelia Suite, Op.11
Alexey Shor – ‘Enchanted Moment’ for Symphony Orchestra; Seascapes for Violin and Symphony Orchestra
Prokofiev – Violin Concerto No.1 in D main, Op.19
Tchaikovsky – Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, TH 42, CW 39
This is the primary ensemble from Romania to go to Edinburgh as a part of the ‘Sunday Classics’ sequence. It is stunning as a result of this nation is wealthy in musical historical past; one of many twentieth-century’s most interesting musicians was George Enescu, whose colourfully written rhapsodies usually adorn encores by visiting orchestras, but a lot of his music is unknown. Enescu was additionally an incredible instructor, conductor and violinist who influenced many, together with Yehudi Menuhin and several other generations of violinists. Sergiu Celibidache is one other excellent determine who was an incredible conductor, as was Constantin Silvestri. Perhaps, Romania’s best exports are Radu Lupu, Dinu Lipatti and Angela Gheorghiu.
The Romanian National Philharmonic is from the regional centre of Brasov and was established in 1878 because the Kronstädter Philharmonische Gesellschaft underneath the conductor Anton Brandner. Of course, Romania was a part of the Habsburg Empire, with German tradition prevalent. Today, the Brasov Philharmonic organise as many as 160 live shows yearly, with many worldwide artists invited for each chamber and orchestral live shows.
The opening Karelia Suite allowed us to evaluate the usual of efficiency of this orchestra; the piece is from Sibelius’s incidental music for a patriotic play primarily based on the area which traditionally has been fought over between Finland and its neighbour Russia. The fifty-minute piece depicts the historic occasions from 1293 by to the sixteenth century, and right here the composer chosen three extracts as an attractive patriotic suite. The Intermezzo opened with the rustling strings as a setting for the entry of the magical horn calls, and sumptuous trumpets – and it was good to see the grins on a few of the musicians as they listened to their colleagues. In the Ballade, the violins weren’t all the time collectively, but the orchestra confirmed it has a advantageous woodwind group, and there was particularly advantageous taking part in from the cor anglais of Cristina Tegzeșiu, invoking a minstrel singing. The strings got here collectively within the Alla Marcia with shiny harmonies and the brass confirmed off their virtuosity splendidly, and there have been excellent contributions from the flutes of Anna Ferraz and Iria Castro Real.
I’ve by no means heard something by the Ukrainian-born, U.S. citizen Alexey Schor (b.1970), nonetheless he’s clearly a grasp of orchestration. His vibrant ‘Enchanted Moment’ opened lustrously with tuneful glowing melodies, considerably evocative of Leonard Bernstein’s most profitable dance rhythms with nice taking part in from the flute of Ferraz and there was greater than a touch too of Shostakovich from the strings and within the breezy jazzy harmonies from the wonderful brass teams. This temporary piece was commissioned for this live performance tour and served to indicate off one of the best of this orchestra’s skills.
Shor’s Seascapes for Violin and Symphony Orchestra was initially written for viola and orchestra and rewritten for the violinist Maxim Vengerov who joined the orchestra for this brightly written rhapsodic work. The opening motion (Abandoned Lighthouse) started on the violin with an evocative theme echoed by the horn, and this moderately wistful thought developed within the orchestra resulting in a sequence of variations in what was a moderately cinematic idiom. The second motion (Lonely Sail) was soulful and melancholic, but usually appeared like a passage from a schmaltzy American film. The third motion (Gathering Storm) turned extra dramatic and thrilling – it’s clear the composer has advantageous musical presents but lacks the depths of thought to advantage extended consideration. The remaining motion (Summer Hail) was a full of life and upbeat sequence with glowing exchanges between Vengerov and the flutes of Ferraz and Real, and the brass teams.
The Prokofiev First Violin Concerto provided Vengerov far more to work with and a recent alternative to show his world-class skills. The Siberian-born violinist final appeared right here 4 years in the past when he made a notable Edinburgh conducting debut with the Würth Philharmonic. On that event, he actually displayed advantageous interpretative skills and he continues to develop a profession as a conductor. He is simply too younger, nonetheless, to discard his violin and right here he confirmed that he stays firmly among the many most interesting violinists of his era.
This was clear from the opening lyrical passages of the Andantino and he was marvellously accompanied by Ferraz on the flute and the harp in opposition to the shimmering violins, all of which customary a magical idiom. This was violin taking part in of elegant high quality and I can not bear in mind a greater efficiency of this concerto within the live performance corridor. Most notably this was evident in an exquisite part accompanied magnificently by the eloquent clarinet of Zé Pinto. The mysterious lyricism was damaged within the temporary Scherzo with tersely energetic taking part in, when Vengerov underlined his nice virtuosity, and the conductor Sergey Smbatyan confirmed his abilities in permitting the violin to be heard clearly in opposition to the brass teams.
In the finale (Moderato) the bassoons of Mihai Marunțelu and Mircea Moisi provided a livelier sequence of music making and there was some spellbinding mastery from the Siberian maestro with startling blends of lyricism and thrilling vibrant gaiety accompanied by the virtuosi of Evelina Andries on the harp, the tuba of Adam Cooper, and as soon as extra the beautiful flute of Ferraz, all recreated the magical, child-like idiom of this nice concerto.
In the Tchaikovsky Fantasy Overture there was an prolonged alternative to evaluate the virtuosity of those gamers underneath this conductor. The opening passage appeared to my ears a bit bland, the music making improved because the strings produced some marvellously eloquent and impassioned ensemble taking part in, and I used to be significantly impressed by the excellent viola group and the double basses. The cor anglais of Tegzesiu was significantly noticeable in her masterly intonation, equalled by the eloquence of the oboes of Pablo Balaguer Ortiz and Lavinia Opriş, and the colors of the clarinet by Pinto, Maruntelu and Moisi on the bassoons, and the velvety harmonious violins.
Under this Armenian conductor, the vividly shiny romanticism surged by the orchestra enhanced with nice taking part in from the horns, and there was a lot fervent ardour within the strings bringing out all of the despairing heartbreak of the 2 lovers. The drama of the music was voiced properly on the grand casa by Simona Piron, the wonderful trumpets, and the timpani by Gabriel Barani, at instances, it appeared that the conductor was adopting too quick a tempo, but earlier than the dramatic shut he allowed the tempo of the music to stream to its thrilling but tragic fruits.
This was a advantageous live performance, but one among two halves, with the requirements a lot improved within the second half. The Romanian orchestra play a second live performance in Scotland at Perth earlier than visiting venues all through the UK earlier than closing their tour in London on December 6. We shall have one other alternative to see Sergey Smbatyan once more when the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra go to in February.
Gregor Tassie