PROM 69 : Shostakovich, Rachmaninov Han-Na Chang (cello); BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Tadaaki Otaka. Royal Albert Hall, Tuesday, 05.09.2006 (CC)



The all-Russian programme chosen by the BBC NOW was clearly popular. The Albert Hall was remarkably full. Maybe the name of cellist Han-Na Chang had invited people along – her recordings for EMI (including one of this concerto, Shostakovich’s First) have caused quite a critical stir. Chang is a remarkable player. There were seemingly few technical challenges here, in this one of the most fearsome of cello concertos. Her articulation was fabulous, particularly in the lower registers – one could hear every note; her high register sang and spoke in a near-vocal fashion; her sotto voce made the audience hang on each utterance.

 

A very special moment occurred in the Moderato, where Shostakovich conjoins the soloist (playing harmonics) with the otherworldly sound of a celeste. The unaccompanied cadenza (the third movement), though, was the apex of this account. Chang was in no hurry, beginning ruminatively and building slowly and inevitably to frenzy. Her tuning in the finale was remarkable, especially at speed. Not only does she have the technique, she has a natural musicality and a musical intelligence far beyond her years.

 

The solo horn player was Tim Thorpe (uncredited in the programme except in the orchestra list), who played strongly and confidently. Impressively, the central cello/horn passage in the first movement was actually together (no mean feat considering (a) the physical distance between the players – cellist at the front, horn right at the back - and (b) the stopping the cellist has to negotiate). If only the orchestra had had more depth, a fault most obvious in the hymnic passages of the Moderato. But this remains a strong reading – do try to hear this via Radio 3 or Radio 3 on the web. Chang’s EMI recording mentioned above (332422-2) may then be the next port of call …

 

I heard Rachmaninov Second Symphony conducted by Otaka in 2002 at the RFH (here) and was impressed by the conductor’s vision. There, the orchestra was the LPO. The BBC NOW did not have their London counterpart’s depth of sound, but Otaka’s ability to follow the ebb and flow of Rachmaninov’s thought remains intact (on both occasions he conducted by memory). Solo instrumental contributions were well done rather than outstanding – the clarinet could have been more liquid of legato in the famous slow movement. Strings made a fair go of the difficult finale. The first movement tended to wander, though, the final thump decidedly half-hearted. This was a performance to grace the covers of the BBC Magazine (as indeed it may well do) and then ultimately to be forgotten.

 

Colin Clarke