A packed Concert Hall showed how delighted the audience was to be back, and to be able to welcome the new Principal Oboe, Lucie Sprague, who comes to the orchestra from Welsh National Opera.
Another special beginning was the first steps along the Road to Joy, the complete set of symphonies by Beethoven that Mark Wigglesworth will be leading over the forthcoming two seasons. The crisp, juicy First Symphony offered an enticing introduction and pointed to an exciting journey to that iconic Ode in Symphony 9. Based on this opening, the journey will be fascinating all the way.
The other music in this evening was just as exciting but envisaged on a rather larger scale than Beethoven 1. The Ring: An Orchestral Adventure, distils fifteen hours of Wagner’s music into just over one hour moulded by Henk de Vlieger. The work captures all the incident of the four operas via the chief motifs, but without the vocals. A large orchestra delivered colour in great broad sweeps, as well as moments of tender introspection. The music escaped the opera house very happily and gave each section of the BSO moments to parade their skills.
This Orchestra remains one of the principal cultural assets of the Southwest, bringing top-quality music to venues large and small in its vast home range. It was heartwarming to see it in such good form as it embarks upon another season with an ambitious programme, giving the promise of many more such evenings to come.
Just one of its great achievements in recent years has been the successful birth and growth of its livestream offerings – exactly six years old on this evening. If you can’t get to hear the music live, the televised concerts, available for 30 days after performance via bsolive.com are a great alternative.
The enthusiasm and anticipation detectable throughout the hall were infectious. Season 26/27 is well and truly begun.
BSO Patron Tom Wickson
This concert is available to watch here until 31 October.