Mark Wigglesworth triggered BSO with spontaneous cut-and-thrust energy and elegance announcing a new symphonic genius on the block, confidently channelling the line from Mozart and Haydn and looking to the future.
A deep breath in the interval before the unleashing of Henk de Vlieger’s The Ring: An Orchestral Adventure – a 70 minute journey through the orchestral music in Wagner’s Ring Cycle that requires a big, beefy appetite.
Whereas Beethoven would have likely been appreciative of the kudos ultimately given to his ground-breaking early symphony, there might have been a less favourable response from the Meister of Bayreuth on hearing 14 extracts from The Ring stitched together with no vocals or texts.
That said, BSO’s mega-size orchestral forces excelled in gloriously idiomatic Wagnerian interpretation delivering grandeur, sensitivity and a palpable sense of drama throughout. By the same token it would readily inspire new listeners to explore the complete works.
Watching live via BSO’s Digital Concert Series online from Italy certainly brought close-up appreciation of sound and vision to enhance the whole experience – even to the extent of seeing the wonderful off-stage horn solos, as well as the spectacular cymbal clashes and anvils on stage. Together with the string sections busily becoming the Rhine, the wind sections were consistently eloquent and probably totally out of puff come the final apocalyptic ending.
A thrilling and triumphant opening for the new season – Ho-jo-to-ho!
Critic Ian Julier
This concert is available to watch here until 31 October.