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Seen and Heard Concert Review
Dvorak
& Janacek;
Natalie Clein (cello) Christine
Brewer (sop), Louise Winter (mezzo), John
Mac Master (ten), Neal Davies (bar); Thomas
Trotter (organ); London Philharmonic Choir,
London Symphony Chorus, Philharmonia Chorus;
Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras,
Royal Festival Hall, 29th June
2004 (AR)
Sir Charles
Mackerras opened his all Slavonic programme
with a sparkling account of Dvorak's popular
Carnival Overture. Here the score was stripped
of its usual bombast with conductor teasing
out the translucent textures of the score
with the Philharmonia Orchestra on top form;
they clearly enjoy giving their best for one
of our finest conductors.
Natalie Clein, winner of the 1994 BBC Young
Musician of the Year Competition, substituted
for an indisposed Han-Na Chang. In stark contrast
with Joshua Bell's vital and incandescent
account of Brahms' Violin Concerto (in part
one of Mackerras' Dvorak/Janacek Series),
Clein's lifeless performance of Dvorak's Cello
Concerto lent a whole new meaning to the word
lacklustre.
It would be an act of generosity to describe
her playing as mediocre: despite her animated
grimaces and attempts to act passion none
of this came through in her playing, which
largely lacked the real feeling and bravura
required for this work. Whatever kind of emotional
trip she may have been having she was not
able to communicate it to the listening public.
Clein's opening passages of the Allegro were
indistinct, with her thin wiry tone being
buried by the full-bodied and expressive Philharmonia
strings; indeed, throughout the cellos had
more persona and presence than the soloist
who was so inaudible she could have been miming
the work. In the Adagio we needed velvet and
she gave us vinegar, producing an acidic tone
which negated the mellowness of the mood.
Her playing lacked contour and colour - monochrome
met monotone in a featureless landscape. By
total contrast the horns and trombones were
dynamic and incisive.
With the Finale Clein's playing was rough
and ready, producing ragged phrasing and a
scrawny tone. What went some way towards saving
this deeply disappointing performance was
the sterling work of Mackerras and the superlative
playing of the Philharmonia.
What followed turned out to be a stunning
and inspired account of Janacek's much underrated
Glagolitic Mass. Mackerras is regarded as
one of the leading interpreters of the music
of Janacek and judging from his glowing performance
of the Glagolitic Mass one can see why; his
reputation is very well deserved. This intense
and dramatic performance glowed from beginning
to end with the Philharmonia and massed choruses
surpassing themselves.
The Gloria was especially overpowering, with
the pounding rhythms from three timpanists
having intense impact, played with incredible
precision and incisiveness. The cellos and
double basses in the Credo had the appropriate
brooding and dark graininess required while
Andrew Smith's forceful timpani were electrifying.
The Varhany organ solo of
Thomas Trotter sounded more like improvised
jazz played on a Hammond Organ, producing
wild, mind blowing sounds. The concluding
Intrada was simply awe-inspiring, the violins
playing with white-hot intensity and concluding
with Andrew Smith producing the final thud.
Mackerras and his magnificent forces received
an enthusiastic, richly deserved ovation,
especially for the massed voices of the three
choirs who were quite outstanding. Of the
soloists soprano Christine Brewer had the
right weight and depth of tone, singing with
warmth and radiance.
It was a pity that this great performance
was not recorded for prosperity: a truly memorable
account of an underrated and under- played
work.
Alex Russell
Further Listening
Dvorak Cello Concerto: Pierre Fournier (cello),
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, George Szell
& Bloch: Schelomo; Berlin Philharmonic
Orchestra, Alfred Wallenstein: DG: 02894291552
Janacek Glagolitic Mass & Taras Bulba:
Evelyn Lear, Hilde Rossel-Majdan, Ernst Haefligiger,
Franz Cras, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
& Chorus; Rafael Kubelik: DG: GALLERIA
429 182-2.
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