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Romantic Valentine’s Classics: Sunwook Kim (piano), Royal Scottish National Orchestra / David Danzmayr (conductor) Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 15.2.2009 (SRT)

Ravel: Bolero
Grieg: Piano Concerto
Mahler: Adagietto from Symphony No. 5
Morricone: Theme from Cinema Paradiso
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture


I can think of few more pleasant diversions on Valentine’s weekend than the RSNO’s selection of love music.  The programme avoided becoming slushy kitsch and instead put together a healthily diverse collection of treats. The RSNO’s assistant conductor, David Danzmayr, was on great form all night.  He didn’t depend on showy effects and was a relatively restrained presence on the podium, but he conjured a magical sound from the orchestra.  He judged the pacing of Bolero just right and steered it back on course any time there were fluctuations in the tempo, inevitable in a piece like this.  The orchestra was on top form for this virtuoso showpiece with every section either showcasing or accompanying well, especially a particularly sleazy saxophonist who seemed to be enjoying himself a lot.  Romeo and Juliet was paced equally well through its varying sequences, with incisive attack for the feud music, and a gorgeous swell to the main statement of the love theme.  The coda was aching yet sublime thanks to the excellent blend of the wind section.

Having been so impressive in these two works, however, the RSNO winds were strangely underpowered in the Grieg, their statement of the first subject sounding understated and a bit vapid.  Conversely, the strings came into their own with surging cellos for the second subject and an absolutely radiant introduction to the slow movement.  This was the most magical moment of the whole evening: gorgeous writing and passionate playing that lifts you out of your seat.  Soloist Sunwook Kim was undoubtedly very technically accomplished, though his pacing needed work in the first movement and parts of the third, and his grasp of the work seemed pretty fragmentary.  That said, the first movement cadenza was truly symphonic and he had the measure of the piano’s gentle interaction with the orchestra in the slow movement.  He’s already a great talent, and will definitely be one to follow in a couple of years’ time when the edges have been smoothed off his playing.

The Adagietto showcased the strings to great effect again, hanging in suspended animation over those persistent harp arpeggios.  Cinema Paradiso was a welcome touch with its gently flowing melody and delicate orchestration – well done to Lynda Cochrane for her elegant piano contribution.  For an encore we got Princess Leia’s theme from Star Wars which was a nice touch, though I’d rather have left with the end of Romeo and Juliet ringing in my ears.

All told a wonderfully enjoyable evening, whether you were there with your other half or not.

Simon Thompson


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