Monumental Brahms was led by the chief conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Mark Wigglesworth, showcasing his musical genius. The programme consisted of Musica Celestis by Kernis, Mozart’s Symphony No.39 and Piano Concerto No.1 by Brahms, which welcomed special guest and prized pianist Yulianna Avdeeva.
Musica Celestis is a wonderful piece for string orchestra: it was composed by Aaron Jay Kernis in 1990. Wigglesworth explained that there is a great contrast in a string orchestra as it covers every possible pitch. The piece starts off incredibly gently and builds into something unexplainably vulnerable and intense, whilst staying simple in a way Kernis is known for. Truly a piece of beauty, vulnerability and slight minimality that is beautifully performed in a string orchestra.
Symphony No.39 is the first in Mozart’s last symphonic trilogy, composed in 1788 and perhaps the most personal piece out of the three. Wigglesworth commented, there is something very touching and simple, and portraying this effortlessness can be a challenge. The first movement introducing the work is unusually slow, growing and building into an energetic and cheerful symphony in the following movements. Symphony No.39 shows affection as well as anguish bound together in an unexplainable harmony.
Piano Concerto No.1, composed by Brahms at the age of 21, is quite monumental with long themes packed with the emotion that inspired it. The orchestra was joined by Yulianna Avdeeva, who brought the piece to life with a powerful performance in what can only be describes as truly embodying the composer’s intentions. The first movement portrays a dark, desperate and vulnerable feeling and through the following movements, it gradually changes out of this theme and into enlightenment towards the end. The passion, intensity and emotion in the performance were palpable through the screen, like a nerve exposed.
Having watched the digital performance of the concert, I can say that I am even more eager to attend a concert by the BSO in person.
The production was far from lacking in quality, as the audience from behind the screen got to experience the performance closely with various angles and shots. The digital concert presenter, Sarah Walker, was also a great addition in the viewing experience, giving us commentary in the pauses between the pieces and shared insider information like a conversation she had with pianist Avdeeva the day before. Speaking of, the piano solo was a great highlight of the concert. The audience could clearly tell the heartfelt message being compelled through her expressiveness, truly in a liege of her own. Together with Wigglesworth’s masterly interpretations and attention to detail, it elevated the whole experience.
I had the great privilege to speak with one of the violinists in the orchestra, Vicky Berry, who said, “The sound of a symphony orchestra, it is immense. It is mind-blowing. It is like nothing else,” and having watched Monumental Brahms, although digitally, I cannot do anything but agree.
Monumental Brahms is available to watch online until 10 January – click here to watch today.