SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

SEEN AND HEARD CONCERT REVIEW
 

Bruch, Saint–Saëns and Rachmaninov: Farhad Badalbeyli (piano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Dimitry Yablonsky (conductor and cello), Cadogan Hall, London, 15.7.2010 (BBr)

Bruch: Kol Nidrei, op.47 (1880)
Saint–Saëns: Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor, op.22 (1868)
Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2 in E minor, op.27 (1906/1907)

Quite apart from the obvious feeling of sharing a great performance of great music with many other people, the main interest in concert going is to hear how different musicians approach the music given into their charge. Tonight was the third time this year that I have heard the Rachmaninov 2^nd Symphony in concert and each of the three has had something special to bring to their interpretations. Andrew Litton, with this orchestra in the Festival Hall (13 April), gave a big performance which was, as I wrote “…a performance of grandeur” which emphasised the lyricism, and was built of blocks of granite, the sheer weight of the music feeling almost overwhelming. With lyricism to the fore, and a strong sense of line, the performance was “stunning”.  Exactly a month later (13 May) John Wilson conducted the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra in a performance which was graced with the thrill of the new – how many of the students playing that night knew the work before setting out on their voyage of discovery? Tonight we had a performance which was an amalgamation of the two. It was a young man’s interpretation backed up with superb orchestral playing borne of years of experience and knowledge of the music.

Yablonsky immersed himself in the music, and gave an unadorned reading of the work – never allowing himself to indulge. This is a work which can become emotion laden in the wrong hands – and with a clear vision of the architecture of the music, the most careful use of rubato – not for him the occasional wallow – and sensibly chosen tempi. He allowed the music to unfold its mysteries slowly and inevitably. I was particularly impressed by the dark and brooding slow introduction to the first movement, which showed exactly how Yablonsky intended to build his interpretation. With the RPO on top form (when isn’t it these days?)  combining the richest of string and brass sound, and Leila Ward’s welcome cor anglais solos – she is such an asset to this orchestra, and her contributions are always worthy of note – and Michael Whight’s intense phrasing of the main theme of the great slow movement, this was a winning performance and one which makes one wish for the swift return of Yablonsky to the podium.

I wish that I could be as positive about the first half. I can understand Yablonsky wishing to programme Kol Nidrei for he is a fine cellist and I am glad that we had the chance to hear this, but it’s not what I would choose to start a concert. It was a good performance but something a bit more racy – such as Saint–Saëns’s brilliant Allegro Appassionato, op.43 (1884) – would have been more welcome.

Saint–Saëns’s 2^nd Piano Concerto is such a delightful work that I am amazed that we don’t hear it more often – indeed, why don’t we hear any of his Piano Concertos with some frequency? – for it entertains and pleases at every turn. Farhad Badalbeyli is a pianist with a huge technique, a real virtuoso, but this music doesn’t require that kind of approach, it needs a much more intimate sensibility, and throughout this performance I was too conscious of great pianism at the expense of the music. For me, Badalbeyli delivered an exciting performance but one which was far too hard driven, and not in keeping with the, almost, childlike excitement and fun of the piece. Indeed, I found it charmless. His encore was a more recent piece which was perfect for him and his technique, and he seemed to be much more at home here. The RPO did what it could with a sparse orchestral accompaniment, there isn’t much there for the players to get their collective teeth into, and, at times, it seemed to be at odds with the soloist, for it made its few jokes really tell.

Bob Briggs

Back to Top                                                 Cumulative Index Page