RSNO concert receives huge applause

Second up in the Perth Concert Series at Perth Concert Hall was the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under guest conductor Edward Gardner.

John Adams: The Chairman Dances was a most intriguing start. Though not an actual part of his opera Nixon in China, it is a fantasy scenario where Chairman Mao Tse Tung steps out from his portrait and dances a foxtrot with Madame Mao to a windup gramophone. Edward Gardner propelled the music crescendo and accelerando before a sudden slowing to the swooning central section.

He gave clarity and precision to the work’s motor rhythms before the final onomatopoeic sounds of the gramophone winding down.

Canadian violinist James Ehnes was the excellent soloist in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. One of the longest of violin concertos, it started off the graceful first movement with four drumtaps, solo, from the timpani, woodwind answered and a lengthy tutti preceded the soloists rising entry.

James Ehnes was particularly good with silvery tone in the mysterious central section. Edward Gardner punctuated with energizing tuttis.

The pair took a flowing view of the Larghetto where lyricism was its essential mode, clarinet and bassoon also contributing fine solos.

In this largely gentle concerto a buoyant dance was the main theme of the final Rondo, appearing between contrasting episodes. James Ehnes charmed by his grace and on multiple recalls to the platform played the Largo from Bach’s Sonata No.3 BWV1005 as an encore.

A mighty performance of Sibelius’ Symphony No.2 filled the second half. Starting with a warm surge of strings, Edward Gardner went on to give a tightly argued development with distinct timbres, clear anchoring double-basses and splendid brass to crown the climax.

He brought out the narrative element in the epic Andante. The third movement Scherzo began rushing and vigorous, alternating twice with a slower, warmer, nature music trio, before the horns started the transition to the exciting string theme and propulsive brass of the Finale. With full, rich string tone Edward Gardner built up the movement in masterly fashion.

An ominous trumpet solo and woodwind responses finally led to the tensest climax: frantic scrubbing from the violins and the brass blowing heroically. The natural result of this was the immense applause from the thoroughly musically satisfied audience in Perth Concert Hall.