BSO’s new season opened with the most pertinent and inspirational address from Dougie Scarfe, the orchestra’s Chief Executive. His focus was on the inclusivity, diversity and reach of the orchestra’s various cultural enterprises, most importantly its audience – locally, nationally and globally. Delivered to a capacity-filled Lighthouse, one could sense an immediate and deeply-felt reciprocal response primed and ready to experience the unique power of live music. The adroitly planned programme of three landmark works in each composers’ output echoed his words to the roof and hopefully beyond.

After a series of short pastoral orchestral works in his formative years, VW’s In the Fen Country evokes the landscape of its title with new original folksong within the context of a visionary sense of the power of Nature consistently developed throughout his entire output. This performance realised its special qualities, capturing both stillness and rapture to spellbinding and elevatory effect. It opened with beautiful solo playing from Holly Randall on cor anglais, complimented midway by the ever-eloquent oboe of Edward Kay, and capped by sublime hushed chording from the trombones and tuba in the closing bars.

“The outer movements conjured the thrill of a Tom and Jerry chase with the orchestra sticking to their soloist like glue, while ensuring the most heart-stopping lyrical central Largo as contrast”

Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto was a stylistic and totemic breakthrough in the 19th century development of the form. The story goes that at the premiere in 1803 with the composer as soloist, he had not been able to fully write out the piano part. Pity the poor fellow composer/conductor enlisted as page-turner confronted with the unenviable task of trying to follow pages of cues surrounding unnumbered blank bars. No such chaos here with soloist Paul Lewis. The performance dazzled with thrilling unpredictability and on-point virtuosity. The outer movements conjured the thrill of a Tom and Jerry chase with the orchestra sticking to their soloist like glue, while ensuring the most heart-stopping lyrical central Largo as contrast. A ground-breaking work given fullest realisation and spontaneity.

As well as celebrating the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth, Holst’s The Planets neatly reflected the programme back to his close friendship with VW. As a suite, its unique and ever-fascinating juxtaposition of facets of astrological and human qualities within the universe seemingly guarantees its popularity as indestructible. At the same time it also suggests that we Earthly beings are not, and that Nature will ultimately always win. This performance emphasised the thrills and mysteries with a huge range of colour and impact, giving uplift and hope that this triumph may still be a long way off.

In the meantime, keep spreading the word and follow their enterprising new season – the BSO is a National Cultural Treasure of the highest order.

Ian Julier

To catch up on the concert or watch again click here (available until 2 November) 

We also received a review from:

Bournemouth Echo “This orchestra is an unstoppable musical force and this was the perfect start to the new eight month season of world class music making.”