THE APEX THEATRE -THE EAST ANGLIA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Siv Misund

Saturday evening on the last day of an uber gloomy January suddenly lit up.

 A Scandinavian goddess swathed in a dazzling silver gown appeared before a small but keen audience. It was the famed Norwegian mezzo soprano Siv Misund. A tall figure with waist- length curly hair she shimmered on to the stage in her sequined dress,  there to sing Elgar’s wonderful Song sequence Sea Pictures.  The work was commissioned by the Norfolk and Norwich Festival in 1898 as a follow up to the more famous Enigma Variations, but sung by the rich lower tones of Siv Misund last night , it emerged as a personal and passionate piece. She brought out the sadness of Elgar – a composer everyone thinks of as a public figure, a National Treasure. But in these lovely songs he declared his love for his devoted wife, conscious he did not have long to live. For most of his life, despite Establishment success he felt a misfit an outsider. The reason? He was a Catholic in an overwhelmingly Anglican country –  all his life he felt his faith had held him back.

Behind the glorious voice of Siv Misund was the impressive sound of the EAChO- the Ch is for Chamber. This mighty orchestra has long out- grown its Chamber title. From a small group twenty years ago numbers – and sound – have swelled. Conducted by Jaques Cohen, a man who goes for drama like none other – it is an exciting line up. The combination of a solo singer and a massive backing sound, beautifully executed, made for a magical piece. Elgar’s wife was ‘his safe haven’ – she even wrote one of the tender poems.

‘Closely cling, for waves beat fast,

Foam flakes cloud the hurrying blast

Love alone will last.

The interval was great. Coffee shop, bar and helpful ushers everywhere, this felt like a proper concert Hall, ( it is ) with a great design, a well run cloakroom ( NB Cambridge Arts Theatre) in a well- designed warm space.( built unbelievably ten years ago by Julian Brandon, a Band Basist !)

Brahms Symphony No.4 I E minor was next. A quiet beginning with a lyrical theme – intersected by the woodwind and a call from a single horn. Brahms devotion to Beethoven is apparent. In fact some wag described this as Beethoven’s tenth Symphony, so close is this homage to his work .In the second movement cellos combine to bring a lovely lyrical episode alive but it’s the third that the orchestra really lets rip with a fabulous and familiar sequence full of solemn defiant energy  The brilliant symphony was also full of daring intercessions – the single triangle note was mysterious as it was incongruous.

A wonderful evening with a great orchestra, a star singer and cool conductor.

The EAChO are back at West Road Concert Hall on 21st March with Cambridge University Symphony Chorus for more Brahms No 1 and excitingly Puccini Messa di Gloria –