Forum Theatre, Malvern – 15th March 2024
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
5*****
In Malvern we were blessed with a visit from the BBC Philharmonic with a mouth watering programme showcasing masterworks from three colossus of Classical music.
First up was Haydn’s Symphony No.53 L’Impériale (1777). It’s hard not to love the man who popularised the string quartet and I’ve yet to be disappointed by one of Herr Haydn’s works, tonight’s included. Tripping strings with urgent interjections from drums and winds, the composer’s impish sense of humour shines brightly in this sparkling piece. The final movement conjured the opulent splendour of the Esterházy court where the great man spent the majority of his career.
Under the baton of conductor Ben Gernon the orchestra delivered a richly sonorous, finely detailed reading with an impressively varied palette of colours. I was particularly taken with the furious lower strings and the extended string quintet section – it takes a natural genius to imagine such a level of inventiveness and it was a pure pleasure to hear it played so wonderfully. The held chords from the winds in the final movement were also a sumptuous highlight.
Soloist István Várdai joined the Philharmonic for Elgar’s Cello Concerto (1919). Written in the aftermath of World War 1 while the composer was dealing with the grave illness of his beloved wife, you can hear the heartbreak from the very first notes. Indeed, the opening movement has a crushing anguish that is both heart wrenching and hauntingly beautiful. In a piece that demands stamina and sustained concentration from the soloist, Mr Várdai took us on an emotional journey that showcased his instrument’s full range of gymnastics and its individual voice in a commendably committed performance. The orchestra and soloist perfectly complemented each other as they wrung every ounce of drama from this exceptional concerto.
The second half gave us a single piece by the master himself: Beethoven’s Symphony No.4 (1806). The 4th is arguably one of his lesser known works but one well worth exploring – especially live. It was fascinating to not only hear it but see it. His passing of the melody around the orchestra, from lowest to highest strings, in an almost balletic fashion was singularly delightful – like a sonic Mexican wave, this was a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. At times the music had brute force, a moment later it caressed with the empathetic tenderness of an estranged lover appearing at your sick bed. Ah, what a soul Ludwig must have had!
The orchestra once again impressed with their crisp phrasing, giving this work a precision that brought it thrillingly to life. Couple that with winds that were playful, brass that was hefty and strings that were sweeping, tender and lush and you had everything the composer demanded, the music needed and the audience wanted. All kudos to those concerned for giving us such an enthralling evenings entertainment. Sheer unadulterated perfection from start to finish.