TSO shows plenty of fire in the East

THE Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra seems to be on a roll at the moment, consistently producing a series of highlevel performances, confidence and morale no doubt buoyed by the recent well-deserved Helpmann Award for Best Symphony Orchestra Concert for their wonderful Wagner Tristan and Isolde last November.

Peter Sculthorpe’s Sun Music II was premiered in 1969 as Ketjak (“Monkey Dance”). Its exciting rhythms and percussion ostinatos made it a fine opener.

For Bartok’s Violin Concerto No.2, Alina Ibragimova set a challengingly fast tempo in the first movement.

She brought a consistently burnished tone and bravura confidence as well as sensitivity to the lyricism and authentically flexible response Bartok’s characteristic structures.

The orchestra, exactingly prepared by Maestro Letonja, played with fire and accuracy.

The second half of the program turned back to the traditional harmonies and lush romanticism of 19th century Russian master Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

His Scheherazade — Symphonic Suite, Op.35 with its glittering orchestration and multiplicity of instrumental solos amply highlighted the current strength of all sections of the orchestra, with concertmaster Emma McGrath’s soaring violin solos crowning the performance.