The RSNO

The Usher Hall

Beethoven revolution begins! The RSNO, like everyone else, is marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. In their case they plan five concerts, collectively entitled the Beethoven Revolution, celebrating his impact on music. Tonight it's his Seventh Symphony, launching the overall programme.

Before the Beethoven we hear first a work that conductor Elim Chan says is inspired by Beethoven's last movement of the Seventh, which is marked con brio (with vigour). Jorg Widman named his work Con Brio. It does have lots of brio, particularly in its use of the drums, very well played by Alasdair Kelly on timpani, standing in for the wonderful principal timpanist Paul Philbert who is on holiday. Unfortunately I can't claim that it matches Beethoven in any other way. It produces some interesting sound effects with instruments being tapped and stroked, but not much in the way of melody. Widmann is a very fine clarinet player and is much recorded. As they say round here 'I think he should stick to the day job!’

Next we have the wonderful violin concerto by Max Bruch, written in 1866 but revised in 1868 for the great violinist Joseph Joachim. Bruch of course had a Scottish connection and one of his best known works is his Scottish Fantasy. Although it was written before he visited Scotland, he had access to a large collection of Scottish music in Munich library and loved Scottish traditional music. It may be this had an influence on his violin concerto, as it is a deeply romantic work. We are very fortunate in having the 18 year old Dutch violinist Noa Wildschut playing it. She performs with great passion, but also great delicacy, and the orchestra under Elim Chan are very much on board.

Finally we have the Beethoven Seventh Symphony, written in 1813 at a time of revolution and change in Europe. It is full of fire and passion and certainly the RSNO give it plenty of that tonight. Was the last movement a little on the fast side? I thought so; whilst writing this review I am listening to Carlos Kleiber's account with the Vienna Philharmonic which seems more measured than Chan's. However this is not a major criticism. It is still a fine performance and I'm looking forward to the next four concerts in the Beethoven series by the RSNO. Certainly the big Usher Hall audience loved it and we went out into the cold night air warmed by the passion of great music.