For a minute or so just prior to the start of this concert I found myself ruminating on the opposing polarities of conductor and soloist. Conductor Laureate of the BBC Symphony Orchestra Andrew Davis, a man rooted in the English tradition with well established Elgarian credentials and Pinchas Zukerman, Israeli born protégé of Isaac Stern and Pablo Casals, who has been resident in the United States from the age of fourteen. As in their differing backgrounds what we heard in the music were two utterly different stories.

Davis launched into the orchestral introduction of Elgar’s Violin Concerto with all the fervour and commitment one would expect from a man who has always revered the composer. For their part, and entirely appropriately, the BBC Symphony Orchestra played like an orchestra who had rediscovered an old friend, alert, passionate and characterful. Yet Zukerman’s first entry set the somewhat disappointing tone for the majority of his performance. Certainly the technical bravura and clarity were to be admired in a concerto that is one of the most stamina sapping in the entire repertoire yet on an emotional level the playing seemed curiously detached. Only in the central slow movement did there seem to be something approaching a marriage of minds with both orchestra and soloist producing some exquisite playing, beautifully moulded by Davis and with Zukerman’s warm tone at last complimenting Elgar’s heartfelt inspiration. The final Allegro molto however took us back to the shortcomings of the first movement with the soloist’s crystal clear articulation giving more of the impression of a study than a masterpiece of the early twentieth century romantic tradition.