Wonderfully inspiring to see and hear the full BSO back on the Lighthouse platform for this livestream concert – with Stephen Hough playing Brahms’ First Piano Concerto and the Orchestra performing Schumann’s Genoveva Overture, all conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
Throughout the January and February national lockdown, essential Wednesday evening music has been preserved online by the ever-resourceful BSO: a refined and powerful Mozart and Mussorgsky piano recital by Paul Lewis; stunningly beautiful harp and cello works performed by Eluned Pierce and Jesper Svedberg from St Giles House; an elegant and smart string and wind chamber concert, and a richly sonorous wind and brass ensemble, both from HQ in Poole Lighthouse.
It is hard to over emphasise how important these performances have been through the darkest and coldest months of the year. Now, with spring not far off, the full orchestra is able to make its contribution to an upturn in the national mood.
It was great to welcome back Stephen Hough to play Brahms’ First Piano Concerto, making a matching set with his performance of the Second last October. Mr Hough’s mastery makes him irresistible, whether he is flying high in the dramatic outer movements of this concerto or sailing serenely through the tender adagio. Nothing ever seems over-exaggerated in his playing; everything focuses on the texture and flow of the music.
As an opening item, Schumann’s Genoveva Overture was great match for the Brahms – atmospheric and exciting. Sir John Eliot Gardiner is of course very much a Dorset figure, so it was a special treat to welcome this titan of the orchestral and operatic world back to the BSO.
The energy and excitement of his conducting was strongly evident throughout. The Schumann, especially, was finely crafted, but the feeling not strained or over characterised. The Brahms was full of emotion, of course, but also harmoniously dignified in manner.
This terrific evening heralds a range of concerts to come over the next weeks. We look forward eagerly.
Thanks, Tom!
Watch the concert highlights below!
We also received these national reviews:
‘Gardiner and the BSO were enticing from the outset, providing warmth and curiosity through Schumann’s intriguing harmonic invention’
‘passion burnt strongly’
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