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Mendelssohn, Richard Strauss and Elgar: Ainhoa Arteta (soprano), Orquesta Sinfónica de Euskadi, Christopher Hogwood, Auditorio El Baluarte de Pamplona. 15.10.2008 (JMI)

Mendelssohn: Overture: The Hebrides, Fingal’s Cave, op.26 (1829/1835)
Richard Strauss: Vier Letzte Lieder (1947)
Elgar: Serenade in E minor, op.20 (1892) Variations on an Original Theme, Enigma, op.36 (1899)


This concert was part of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Euskadi's season which took place in Bilbao, San Sebastián, Vitoria and Pamplona: the tour ends Friday in the Auditorio Nacional de Madrid. For me, the high point of the concert was Ainhoa Arteta’s interpretation of Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs and I was not alone here for El Baluarte was sold out.

British conductor Christopher Hogwood, better known for his baroque and classical period interpretations, was in charge of the orchestra, offering a programme that, apart from the Strauss Songs, included the Hebrides Overture of Mendelssohn, with the second half dedicated to British composer Edward Elgar, with his Serenade for Strings and The Enigma Variations.

Hogwood was more interesting in the Elgar works than in the music of the first half, where he appeared to be rather anodyne. The glorious music of Richard Strauss received a “proper” reading, but, as with the Mendelssohn, there was little real inspiration. Hogwood was at his best in the Enigma Variations, where he showed a better feeling and familiarity with the music, and there were some very bright moments. The Euskadi Orchestra is a better group when playing on stage than in when in the pìt, but tonight the sound was not particularly sparkling, displaying more quality in the wind and brass sections than in the strings. 

Ainhoa Arteta, exhibiting both beauty and glamour, demonstrated again that she has a magnificent voice which has gained in weight and strength. She now sings with a greater security and confidence than before and the difficulties of tessitura of the first Strauss lied (Frühling) gave her no problems whatever.  and I believe she is ready for a big jump in her repertoire for, with her voice and her stage presence, she could be an outstanding Arabella.

The public gave the biggest ovation was for Ms. Arteta, but there was less enthusiasm for Hogwood and the orchestra.

José M. Irurzun


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