I was curious to hear how these charismatic Venezuelans would cope with Messiaen’s weird but rather wonderful Turangalîla-symphonie. They’re pretty good at the blockbusters – Mahler, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky, Wagner and South American repertoire - but within minutes it was clear this wasn’t going to be a memorable night. For a start the orchestra seemed underpowered and ill at ease, although matters did improve after twenty minutes or so.
The most disconcerting aspect of this performance was the feeling that it had been painstakingly stitched together from a series of discrete panels. True, that does highlight the work’s constrasting elements, but it also created some jarring joins. Not at all the seamless presentation that we usually hear. The playing was quite untidy, too. My real gripe, though, is that the cumulative power of the piece – it’s growing sense of ecstasy - never came through. Also, the SBO have a way of colouring the music they play, and that made for some unexpected sonorities.
Cynthia Millar was superb on the ondes, but I did wonder how pianist Yuja Wang could pedal in those huge, sparkly platforms. As it was she managed very well, even if she did turn the symphony into a rather glitzy concerto. The audience contained the usual groupies, complete with flags, but I sensed the applause spoke more of Londoners’ affection for this band than the quality of the performance.
The most disconcerting aspect of this performance was the feeling that it had been painstakingly stitched together from a series of discrete panels. True, that does highlight the work’s constrasting elements, but it also created some jarring joins. Not at all the seamless presentation that we usually hear. The playing was quite untidy, too. My real gripe, though, is that the cumulative power of the piece – it’s growing sense of ecstasy - never came through. Also, the SBO have a way of colouring the music they play, and that made for some unexpected sonorities.
Cynthia Millar was superb on the ondes, but I did wonder how pianist Yuja Wang could pedal in those huge, sparkly platforms. As it was she managed very well, even if she did turn the symphony into a rather glitzy concerto. The audience contained the usual groupies, complete with flags, but I sensed the applause spoke more of Londoners’ affection for this band than the quality of the performance.
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