Southern Sinfonia Concert, Dunedin Town Hall
Saturday 19 April 2008
Otago Daily Times review
By Elizabeth Bouman
Prime performance from Southern Sinfonia, pianist
A city the size of Dunedin is truly blessed with a symphony orchestra of the calibre of the Southern Sinfonia.
Conducted by Nicholas Braithwaite, it performed three works in a well-filled town hall on Saturday evening, and I heard nothing but praise from patrons in the foyer after.
The strings were in excellent form for the opening work, Angel at Ahipara, by Christchurch born composer Christopher Blake. The work traverses seven scenes inspired by the statue of an angel in a churchyard at Ahipara (Ninety Mile Beach). Thin wispy string timbre introduced a vigil scene, swelling to richer tone, often deep and sonorous from cellos and basses, as storms were calmed, hope and joy emerged and spirits soared. A beautiful evocative work impressively delivered by 34 string players.
Piano Concerto No.5 (The Egyptian) by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns drew a magnificent performance from concert pianist Michael Houstoun. A radiant orchestral palate captured the mood, and Houstoun’s piano interpretation of this programmatic concerto was absolutely brilliant. Harp-like, devilishly fast at times but never over-boisterous, lustrous piano texture rose and ebbed as waves of Mediterranean warmth and beautiful themes engulfed the listener.
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.6, Pathtique (sic) is a big four-movement work. I found the opening adagio to be a real highlight, with the familiar main theme accorded plenty of contrast at each hearing. Excellent clarinet passages of warm liquid tone preceded the unleashing of full orchestral tutti in the allegro. The remaining movements were all well-paced and dynamically pertinent.
Southern Sinfonia appears to be in prime condition this year, and as one discerning audience member said, there was never a moment when one might grimace, or feel anxious - and I totally agreed.