Photo, Chris Christodoulou
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Royal Albert Hall, London
Cristian Măcelaru (music director designate Cincinnati Symphony) has probably made the greater impression with his work in Cologne rather than Paris (Enescu Symphonies aside). Ravel bookends: the Rapsodie, opening in the night, albeit a little hasty, a little loud, not mysterious enough (as broadcast), if fastidious, as were the shapes and scoring of the dances and festivities that followed – outside of Roth’s instrument-conscious ensemble it was good to hear a whiny bassoon timbre and a refulgent cor anglais (cf. Cluytens’s Paris Conservatoire Ravel recordings) – the final ‘Feria’ nicely slurred (suggesting a drop too much sangria), becoming exuberant. The ubiquitous La valse – even masterpieces need a rest – but this one had a powerful sense of violence brewing (reflecting the immediate aftermath of World War I) unleashed uncompromisingly by Măcelaru, the Viennese waltz in turmoil. There’s an ONF/Măcelaru Ravel set due soon from Naive.
With a vibrant, attentive, accompaniment (strings), the Bologne Violin Concerto – more about technical fireworks, a high-wire act admirably negotiated by Randall Goosby, than musical substance – proved pleasant-enough without a fan-club being formed for it; one might recall the speedy virtuosity of the Finale if not the main idea. Chausson’s Poème conjures a clandestine world, musically rapturous, deeply expressive from Goosby, intensely secluded from the ONF, impassionedly intertwined as dramaturgy is absorbed into unspecified music that nevertheless tells the full story.
Danse mystique suggests that Charlotte Sohy’s music should be explored. Starting in shadows, there’s a sinister quality colouring this twelve-minute piece that sustains progress to a gnarly climax undertowed by accruing emotion.
No encore from Goosby or the ONF despite plenty of time on the R3 schedule; maybe a requirement of the Proms office given the later concert and its electronic paraphernalia, but an extra from each would have been welcome and avoided the feeling of programme restricting and that a few minutes really shouldn’t matter.
Maurice Ravel: Rapsodie espagnole
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-99): Violin Concerto in G, Op.8
Charlotte Sohy (1887-1955): Danse mystique (UK premiere)
Ernest Chausson: Poème
Maurice Ravel: La valse
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002ftly