Photo, Chris Christodoulou
Why choose Vilem Tausky’s reduced scoring of Crown Imperial (if not confirmed by the presenter) in this of all buildings, when Britten and (with organ) Elgar also require full forces? It was anyway a so-so performance; “too fast” said David Owen Norris. (My few words require an ally.) Of the Grimes snippets, ‘Dawn’ & ‘Moonlight’ dragged, ‘Sunday Morning’ & ‘Storm’ went the other way, BBCNOW pressured, atmosphere lacking, some balances awry. The Elgar was generally unsettled – in tempos, affections, and connections (hope I’m not being too enigmatic), yet ‘Nimrod’ was noble until crudely climaxed; some ‘sore thumbs’ brass elsewhere, too. VW’s Lark was placed (too?) early, rather stickily phrased by Liya Petrova in first flight and never really transporting enough, if with greater expressive freedom and raptness later. Of the pieces by Coleridge-Taylor father and daughter, Samuel’s a cappella pair were quite nice if without a return ticket, while Avril’s (with orchestra, published as by Peter Riley, if with no reason given as to why the need to arrange them) had shapelier appeal. Good to hear William Mathias’s Dance Overture again (it’s a long time since I had a Decca LP with it on; SXL 6607, by the way), bustled along by Nil Venditti (Atherton, with the LSO, more poised in tempo and detailing). John Rutter’s new opus (for singers and players) proved to be delightful, an excellent felt-right premiere no doubt governed by his presence. As for Grace Williams’s Elegy for Strings, it made an intense, troubled contrast to the other pieces. Then it was the Elgar…
Walton, arr Tausky: Coronation March, Crown Imperial
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
S Coleridge-Taylor: Isle of Beauty; The Evening Star
Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Op 33a
Mathias: Dance Overture
John Rutter: Bird Songs (BBC commission, world premiere)
A Coleridge-Taylor: The Shepherd; A Rustling of Grass (arr. Zoë Birtwhistle)
G Williams: Elegy for Strings
Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme (Enigma)
Liya Petrova (violin)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
BBC Singers
Nil Venditti
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002gdll
Excellent review, Colin.
You now have another ally. I agree with your every word. I heard David’s interval remark about the Walton that threw the R3 presenter, alas not for long, for she was soon back to gratuitous hyperbole, now typical of this station alas.
You are all just jealous, it was an incredible concert !!
Played incredibly, and lead by Nil Venditti in a stunning way!
It was a story from the first note to the end – full of so many colours, phrases, ideas !
Hi Giulia, a very illustrative response. 🙂 Colin
Just relived a wonderful evening on BBC2 Nil Vebditti’s enthusiasm is infectious and I have rarely heard The Lark Ascending Interpreted quite so well