Virtuoso demonstrates flair and dazzling brilliance

Friday evening saw the final piece in the Perth Concert Series. Performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Matthias Pintscher, the programme was mainly Czech music by Smetana and Dvoák, with Chopin’s romantic Piano Concerto No 2, played by the young French virtuoso David Kadouch, as the centrepiece.

Opening the concert with two movements from Má Vlast, Pintscher brought a real sense of adventure to Smetana’s portrait of the river Vltava.

Beginning with a stately tempo and graceful playing by two flutes it soon gained tempo as it pursued its journey through Bohemia’s woods and fields and culminated in a blazing finale, played with gusto by the full orchestra.

Similarly in Šárka, named after the mythical female warrior, the orchestra painted a descriptive portrait of the Czech legend and her exploits. The dramatic opening set the scene of the rugged landscape before the rollicking main theme gathered pace.

By way of contrast, Chopin’s early Piano Concerto No 2 is romanticism at its most direct. The orchestra played the gentle introduction of the first movement with a sonorous tone that led to the florid piano solo where Kadouch played with real sensitivity. In the mazurka finale he played with flair and dazzling brilliance, but it was the wonderfully emotive quality of the slow movement which captured the audience.

The lyrical opening movement of Dvoák’s Symphony No 4 gave a sense of momentum, whilst the Wagnerian style slow movement gave real pathos. The Scherzo had a peasant dance style with the orchestra playing an articulated beat to emphasis the rustic charm.

The Finale is based on a repetitive five note theme, but the second theme brings back the lyricism of the first movement before the full ensemble leads to a stirring end.