Baroque splendour opens series

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra launched its New Zealand Herald Premier series in Baroque splendour.

A smallish band of musicians, mostly standing, gave us a full, ceremonial welcome with Bach’s third orchestral suite.

Giordano Bellincampi put a confident stride into its Overture, spurred on by rousing trumpets and drums; in the well-known Air, the conductor stressed that the first violins did not have a monopoly on Bach’s melodies.

Soloist Stefan Dohr was here as part of a global tour, premiering a new horn concerto by the Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen. The APO is one of five international orchestras that commissioned the piece. Just days after Berlin and Tokyo, Auckland was the third audience to hear it.

Abrahamsen has penned an admirably lithe and lean score. Dohr set off by blending longheld notes into passing orchestral textures, creating the effect of single chords of many colours.

Peremptory snare drum announced the second movement, extending the sonic domain and giving the virtuoso soloist an opportunity to rove about, with hunting calls and fiery outbursts.

There was thunder and much adrenalin afoot in the finale, ending in beautifully sustained reflection.

After interval, Bellincampi’s adoration of Brahms’ Second symphony showed on his face and in the sweep of his hands, as he effortlessly underlined the subtle rhythmic play of its joyous first movement. Even in its dark-hued

Adagio there was grace, and the lightness and buoyancy of its scherzo proved the perfect foil for a storming, celebratory Allegro con spirito.