SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

Other Links

Editorial Board

Google Site Search

Berlioz, Lalo, Prokofiev: Vadim Repin (violin); Philharmonia Orchestra, Ion Marin. Royal Festival Hall, London, 17.2.2009 (CC)


Ion Marin had a lot to live up to. After all, this concert was due to have been fronted by the whizz-kid of the moment, Gustavo Dudamel, a conductor who has given hope to all those of us on the trail of anyone who could possibly be labelled as “great” or who has the makings of “great”. Alas, Dudamel cancelled at extremely short notice (he was “unable to travel to the UK due to a bronchial infection”) and a replacement had to be found – quick.

Romanian-born Marin is an Austrian citizen and my only experience of him was a gala concert given by the diva Angela Ghiorghiu – my impressions were not particularly favourable. His technique is well-drilled, but there is quite a lot of expressive “flapping” – ie appropriate gestures that convey little and go nowhere. Curiously, it was Berlioz’ Roman Carnival Overture that also opened the 2005 Ghiorghiu Gala. There was a balance here between good and less good. The cor anglais solo was well played (Maxwell Spiers) and the trombones intoned their part well towards the end but there was a sense of ragged nervousness at the opening and a general sense of (in this case understandable) lack of preparation.

Vadim Repin has previously impressed on a number of occasions; alas less so here in Lalo’s famous Symphonie espagnole. Perhaps this had something to do with the accompaniment? Marin is a good accompanist but not an exceptional one by any means, and the Philharmonia reflected that very standard back at him in their playing. Repin himself projected well but was significantly more restrained in emotional projection, something that was particularly felt in the penultimate, Andante, movement; and overall the very Spanishness of this score seems to beg for more extroversion than was delivered. The finale was playful with much virtuosity – but where was the fire? This is the first time I have been actually disappointed by Repin. His accompanists on previous orchestral concerts have been Vladimir Ashkenazy and Mstislav Rostropovich. Maybe therein lies the clue to the lacklustre nature of the Lalo?

Finally, Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony. Without a doubt there was more of a spark here between conductor and orchestra. Marin paced the Andante first movement well, and shaped it convincingly with a true sense of organic growth. In fact all four movements seemed to exhibit the perfect tempo. Only the third movement disappointed in any major way (the climax lacked vital, internal energy); the finale had many suave moments and generated a nice head of steam towards the end. Special mention should go to the E flat clarinetist, Jennifer McLaren, for her contribution in the second movement.

Despite the positives of the Prokofiev, it remained difficult not to leave with a sense of being underwhelmed overall. The first half cast a long shadow.

Colin Clarke


^{Back to Top                                                    Cumulative Index Page}