Forum Theatre, Malvern – 10th November 2023
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
5*****
The incomparable English Symphony Orchestra presented us with two meditations upon the theme of oppression – one personal and one national.
First was Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major (1878); the only Violin Concerto the composer wrote, it remains one of the best known in the repertoire. Hearing the opening romantic theme was like receiving a hug off a long lost friend. Glorious!
What gorgeous playing from tonight’s soloist, Chloe Hanslip, who threw the kitchen sink at the opening movement’s cadenza in a dazzling display. Her bowmanship was virtuosic, dramatic and emotional, with innate musicality illuminating the farthest reaches of the musical horizon. An entrancing display. The sombre second movement perhaps portrayed best the composer’s inner contemporary turmoil (in the wake of his disastrous, short lived marriage) with a lush orchestral sweep worthy of any Hollywood epic. The third movement introduced exotic Russian folk elements (both works tonight being, of course, Russian). The orchestra positively fizzed with energy and the pizzicato string playing was particularly impressive – giving us staggering speed coupled with forensic precision. The perfect way to open a concert.
The second half began with an introduction to Shostakovich’s Symphony no 5 in D minor (1937). Introductions, putting a work into context, are always a welcome feature and tonight’s was an exceptionally cogent one from Conductor Kenneth Woods, his insights being (sadly) very timely given the continuing horrors in Ukraine and Gaza.
Written in the wake of Stalin’s vindictive crackdown on artists, the 5th appeared to the tone deaf and myopic to be a work which praised the Soviet regime, outwardly embodying the state sanctioned Socialist realism propaganda. In fact it portrayed the polar opposite. To my ears, the overall impression is the aural equivalent of watching a Tim Burton film – familiar yet off kilter, the angles all wrong! A thoroughly modern, rousing, mournful and thought provoking piece that perhaps deserves the subtitle “Fight War Not Wars”. The orchestra was expanded with more of everything – particularly brass, wind, percussion and three harps. The power of the extra forces became immediately apparent in the lower strings’ opening salvo which was awe inspiring. As were the tuttis which hit you like a ton of bricks. But it was the quiet moments that completely blew me away – the leader of the violins solo playing was sublime and when the strings played that quiet section in the 3rd movement Largo with such remarkable passion and control, it was ethereal. The timpanist looked to be having a ball in the rambunctious passages and the flautist and bassoonists were also worthy of special mention. Couple that with a muscular brass section and you have the perfect reading of this mighty work.
The ESO is perhaps the most perfectly balanced orchestra I’ve ever heard; every element being audible, giving the pieces a commendable precision and crisp clarity which allowed one to discover hitherto unheard details.
Impeccable conducting from Mr Woods gave us performances bristling with excitement that the composers would have been proud of. It was visceral! The standing ovation was thoroughly deserved – I’d have thrown flowers had I brought any. Live music making at its very best. Thank you ESO