EAST ANGLIA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Rehearsal time - photography by Nikki Gold
The East Anglia Chamber Orchestra opened the evening with a thrilling account of Rossini’s William Tell Overture under the dynamic baton of Toby Purser. From the hushed, lyrical opening for five solo cellos, through the gathering storm and the pastoral calm that follows, to the exuberant, instantly recognisable gallop of the finale, the orchestra was in superb form, with excellent playing across all sections. Purser took the famous ‘Lone Ranger’ music at a breathless pace, driving the orchestra towards an exhilarating conclusion, with particularly splendid contributions from the brass and woodwind. It was a wonderfully spirited curtain-raiser, full of colour, energy and theatrical excitement.
Brahms’s Double Concerto for Violin and Cello was a fascinating musical conversation, with violinist Michael Foyle and cellist Thomas Carroll exchanging ideas, picking up each other’s phrases and occasionally crossing over one another, as though engaged in an animated discussion.
More relaxed but still intense rehearsal ,by Nikki Gold
The dramatic opening movement begins with an orchestral flourish before the cello launches into an impassioned solo, soon joined by the violin, the two instruments weaving their way through Brahms’s richly textured orchestral writing. The beautiful slow movement, with its tender, expansive melody, brought a quite different mood, the two soloists at times singing together as one voice before gently answering each other. The exuberant, Hungarian-flavoured finale brought the conversation to a spirited conclusion.
Carroll was a wonderfully restless presence, almost fidgeting with the music, while Foyle, more measured and composed in his stance, provided a delightful contrast. The two exchanged smiles and knowing nods throughout, clearly relishing their musical partnership. At times it felt less like a formal concerto than two old friends enjoying a musical party, with the orchestra joining in the conversation.
MICHAEL FOYLE - Soloist on Saturday
After the interval came two splendid crowd-pleasers: Malcolm Arnold’s Four Scottish Dances and Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony.
Arnold’s colourful suite is as rousing and bright as a Highland fling, its infectious rhythms and glorious orchestral colours suggesting ravishing film music. Utterly irresistible, it was played with tremendous tartan panache, the orchestra relishing every change of mood, from boisterous exuberance to the wistful tenderness of the third movement, with its most lovely melody.
The happy mood continued with Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony, a work which has delighted audiences since its first performance in 1833. Inspired by the composer’s travels in Italy, it seems positively to radiate Mediterranean sunshine. Again, the orchestra sounded a treat, from the opening earworm of a melody, bursting with youthful energy, through the graceful middle movements to the whirling Italian dances of the finale. Purser kept the music moving with infectious vitality, bringing the evening to a sparkling and exhilarating conclusion. A great evening at West Road with a first-rate orchestra. What’s not to like?
THOMAS CARROLL
