Music Review:

There are many instances of classical music working hand inhandwithclassicsofthesilver screen, but few works have played such a starring role as Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto.

Most have played bit parts – the Adagietto from Mahler 5 achieving immortality in Death In Venice as did the second movement of Mozart’s 21st piano concerto in Elvira Madigan. The love theme from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet is another, rising to prominence on several occasions in Gene Kelly’s The Three Musketeers.

But few match the pairing of the Rachmaninov and David Lean’s classic Brief Encounter. Noel Coward, who wrote the screenplay, insisted on using the concerto as the movie’s soundtrack and it couldn’t have worked out better. Its mood reflects that of the movie – passionate, heart-string-tugging and full of repressed emotions. It’s a pity that the composer didn’t see the fruits of this collaboration, passing away two years before the film was released.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s decision to perform the soundtrack with pianist Leon Maccawley as the film was screened, was an inspired one and while the film naturally took precedence, the performance of pianist and orchestra conducted by Dirk Brosse fitted the atmosphere perfectly.

However, my concentration was riveted on the screen as the story unfolded – and I’d forgotten what a marvellous movie it was. As the drama unfolds and as the love affair between Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson grows in intensity, it was only when the orchestra and pianist struck up with one of the many glorious themes of the concerto that you were reminded that this was, in essence, a musical occasion.

But it was a marvellous occasion too, and if the RSNO can come up with something along the same lines in the future, I’m all for it.

Mid-scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Liz Smith said there must be more focus on helping people make healthier eating choices. Picture: Andrew Cowan.