United Kingdom Debussy, Pécou, Martinů: Alexandre Tharaud (piano), BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Marzena Diakun (conductor). Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Millennium Centre, 27.1.2023. (PCG)
Claude Debussy – Prélude a l’après-midi d’une faune
Thierry Pécou – Cara Bali Concerto (UK première)
Bohuslav Martinů – Symphony No.3
The centrepiece of this programme, and the longest piece on it, was the UK première efficiency and broadcast of Thierry Pécou’s piano concerto Cara Bali. It was written in 2020 however not carried out till post-pandemic days in Lyon final 12 months with the identical soloist as in the present day. The title ‘Dear Bali’ – not translated within the programme – would possibly imply ‘beloved’ fairly than ‘expensive’ (though both could possibly be utilized with some justification).
The music is instantly impressed by the Balinese gamelan, which has so influenced European composers ever for the reason that days of Debussy. This rating takes the gamelan as a place to begin. A variety of tuned percussion stretches throughout the again of the orchestra, together with eight tuned gongs. Rather disappointingly, these weren’t employed solo as a lot as they’re in, say, Vaughan Williams’s Eighth Symphony. Even so, their distinctive clangour rang out all through the course of the half-hour concerto.
The gamelan affect was most evident within the first of the 2 actions (each given the similar tempo marking of Vivace) however was considerably vitiated by the regularity of the tempo. Only contrasts of dynamic offered selection, and harmonies clashed in an virtually arbitrary trend. I used to be reminded in locations of the sound-world of Messiaen’s Turangalîla the place deeply sonorous trombone pedals underpin the textures. The second motion commenced similarly, however then after a catastrophic orchestral ‘clatter’ the piano launched out right into a considerably slower-paced and extra meditative cadenza which offered some much-needed distinction. The orchestra slowly constructed from this and commenced a heavy-footed insistent march. Rhythms constructed to a climax of a deafening quantity that I had final heard on this corridor in a Revueltas movie rating some years in the past. Towards the top, the piano, successfully drowned out, lapsed into full silence solely to re-emerge after an awesome catharsis with a ultimate frenzied reappearance. That in flip led to a ultimate coda by which blaring brass recalled motor horns in a way that resembled nothing a lot as a motorway pile-up. I’m not fairly clear how all this mirrored the Balinese title of the concerto, nevertheless it was undeniably spectacular and introduced cheers from the viewers each for the performers and the composer.
Before this blockbuster, we had been given a fragile and nuanced efficiency of Debussy’s Prélude a l’après-midi d’une faune, his personal response to mystic exoticism earlier than he had ever encountered Balinese influences. Flautist Matthew Featherstone launched it with a fantastically nuanced inflection. His virtually hesitant and shy presentation of the principal theme solely progressively developed by inches into the richer nuances of the bigger-boned passages of the rating. Marzena Diakun displayed with grace and punctiliously noticed precision each side of the rating, together with the sometimes-shrouded vintage cymbals within the closing bars. It was maybe stunning to listen to cheers from the viewers after what is usually a bit regarded and obtained in a extra meditative trend, however this rapturous efficiency was one thing fairly particular.
After the interval, we had an abrupt change of tempo once more with a uncommon efficiency of Martinů’s Third Symphony. I might suspect that almost all listeners – like myself – encounter the composer’s first 5 symphonies, written in as a few years firstly of his American exile, as a part of full units of the recorded symphonies, certainly virtually as a steady physique of labor. Hearing the Third Symphony in isolation on this method pointed up the similarities with the others, like Martinů’s fondness for sprinkled pointillist chords in harp, piano and percussion, and his abrupt contrasts between timbres for one part and the following. It additionally highlighted some extra particular person options.
The first of the three actions is a really common neo-classical construction. The normal sonata type of exposition, a (pretty transient) improvement, virtually literal recapitulation and ultimate coda are adhered to with a maybe over-literal faithfulness. It is simply enlivened by the style by which the composer rings the modifications from one orchestral sound to the following. But the second motion is one thing fairly totally different. Martinů experimented with imprecise washes of impressionist textures and color which anticipate his later developments in scores resembling The Greek Passion. And when these components return within the finale, contrasted with hovering stratospheric brasses and abruptly jagged fanfares, the parallels with that operatic masterpiece develop into overwhelmingly obvious. Again, the rating, in all probability unfamiliar to many of the viewers, proved to be instantly enticing. Leaving the corridor, I overheard members of the viewers saying that they might love to listen to it once more. Martinů has at all times been well-liked in Cardiff, ever for the reason that heady days of the Nineteen Eighties when Welsh National Opera mounted the primary British performances of The Greek Passion. It proved so well-liked that some years later audiences voted it the manufacturing they most wished to see revived. Maybe WNO will sooner or later oblige.
This was one other exploratory programme from BBC Wales which make concertgoing in Cardiff so steadily an surprising pleasure. One hopes that viewers attendance may additionally improve, as soon as the general public transport system within the Welsh capital lastly will get resolved (we’re promised a brand new metro system subsequent 12 months!). All the identical, there have been a considerable variety of listeners within the corridor. In the meantime, the entire live performance, broadcast reside on BBC Radio 3, remains to be out there to listen to from BBC Sounds for an extra month. It will properly repay investigation by each British and international audiences.
Paul Corfield Godfrey