In her Hallé concert debut, assistant conductor Delyana Lazarova exhibits confidence and enthusiasm as well as thoughtful musicianship, opening with Overture by Polish composer and violinist Grażyna Bacewicz (1909-69), colourful and energetic, worth discovering.
The Suite (using the chamber scoring) from Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring is very well done, further evidence that Lazarova has a positive blend of being able to inspire players while getting across her considered view of the music, here eloquent, zesty and affecting; idiomatic.
With some of the Hallé musicians required to be placed beyond the Bridgewater Hall platform, Shostakovich’s First Symphony is full of character(s) and pristine detailing if a little too comfortable at times, more edge and less-safe tempos needed – if, once again, with a Hallé response that speaks volumes about the players’ rapport with Lazarova and their collective trust in her. The slow movement is of dark soulfulness.