Khachaturian : Waltz from Masquerade
Tchaikovsky : Violin Concerto (Nicola Benedetti, violin)
Rachmaninoff : Symphony No. 2
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Peter Oundjian
The hall was packed for this opening concert of the RSNO's 125th anniversary season, an all-Russian programme featuring (and this was surely the principal attraction) Nicola Benedetti, playing the Tchaikovsky.
As a (very short) prelude to the main act, we got Khachaturian's sweeping Masquerade waltz, very much in the lineage of the great waltzes of Tchaikovsky, Glazunov or Prokofiev. Although this is incidental rather than ballet music, it still needs to be perceived as danceable, and Oundjian's pace, though certainly invigorating, was maybe a shade fast. Still, the waltz's glittering, and slightly sinister atmosphere was well conveyed.
Perhaps the most striking thing about the performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto was the complicity between soloist and conductor. Quite aside from the technical demands on the violinist - which Nicola Benedetti negotiated with disarming ease - the piece is full of shifts of tempo, often quite abrupt, and ensuring that everyone comes in exactly when they're supposed to can be something of a headache. The precision of tonight's interpretation was very striking, the orchestra always present at just the right moment, Benedetti never appearing to run ahead or lag behind at any point, everything placed just so, and with complete assurance.
Benedetti has, I think, made a conscious decision to eschew a more emotive reading of the concerto in favour of something a little cooler, a bit more relaxed in the first movement. I've certainly heard more melodramatic readings, and maybe she might consider turning up the heat a notch or two, as I believe she could afford to without actually finding herself indulging in unnecessary theatrics. The brief Canzonetta was elegantly wistful, however, and the Finale was certainly lively enough.
Much as I like Rachmaninoff, his symphonies seem to me to be among his weaker compositions. They abound in wonderful melody, but always go on just that bit too long. It's a rare performance that successfully overcomes that impression, though I've heard several that manage it in part. This was one such; the first movement dragged slightly, the Scherzo took a couple of minutes to really hit its stride. On the other hand, the sound was lovely, big and lush, just what you want for Rachmaninoff's long, lavish melodic lines, and the energy of the last movement was irresistible, resulting in resounding, and well-deserved applause. A fine start to the season; let's hope the rest is as enjoyable.
[Next : 9th October]
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