BBC Philharmonic - Juanjo Mena - 23.9.13 - 7:30pm

[mercia]

Live from the BBC Philharmonic's home at MediaCity in Salford. The BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Juanjo Mena, performs Ravel's Une barque sur l'océan, Turina's Canto a Sevilla and Rapsodía sinfónica and David Matthews' A Vision of the Sea.



Ravel: 'Une barque sur l'océan
Turina: 'Canto a Sevilla' *

8:20 Interval

8:40
Turina: Rapsodía sinfónica
David Matthews: A Vision of the Sea


BBC Philharmonic
Juanjo Mena (conductor)
María Espada (soprano) *
Martin Roscoe (piano)


This evening's concert begins and ends with two works inspired by the sea: Ravel's portrait of a fishing boat on the high seas, and David Matthews's A Vision of the Sea. Premiered by the BBC Philharmonic at this year's Proms, it was inspired by Shelley's poetry, the pull of the tide on the Kent coast and an evocation of sunrise. The BBC Philharmonic is joined by María Espada to perform Turina's Canto a Sevilla - his setting of poems by José Muñoz San Román. After the interval Martin Roscoe will be the piano soloist in another work in which Turina pays homage to his native Andalusia, his Rapsodía sinfónica

[mercia]

no, I didn't listen either

[Hornspieler]

no, I didn't listen either

Nor me.

[mercia]

is Turina somniferous ? I don't know.

[edashtav]

So far, I've listened only to the second half. What did I enjoy? The accurate, confident playing by the BBC PO and lively, well-controlled interpretations by Juanjo Mena, its chief conductor. What didn't I enjoy? The music.

Rapsodía sinfónica by Turina may fairly be described as a rhapsody but is not symphonic - even in the sense of being written for a symphony orchestra (it's based around strings and piano). But.. let's put that objection aside- does it succeed on its own terms? I don't think so. Firstly, its roots in Ravel, Debussy and the French impressionists are obvious and to its detriment. Rapsodía sinfónica is replete with Spanish colour but it's superficial, the music doesn't add to our knowledge of Spain & the Spanish. Put it alongside Ravel's Spanish pieces and its mundane triviality becomes painful. Nice piano part, mind you - I'm sure that our good guide,Martin Roscoe, thoroughly enjoyed his trip through Andalucia, he characterised every nook and cranny delightfully. Great piece for R.3's Film Music Season!

I don't want to say too much about David Matthews' Vision - after all he's one of us and I've loved some of his works - e.g. his 4th Symphony. I fear that I've heard enough of his works & that he has insufficient that is new to say to me. He says it nicely: no doubt he's a true British gent.

Cunning to preface the programme with a chip off the Ravel block and not one of his block-busters which would have over-shadowed what was to come. Turina & Matthews need such sensitive help.

Now... over to their staunch defenders!