Orchestra of Opera North at Leeds Town Hall

February 3, 2008

Richard FarnesThe programme begins with Mozart’s Symphony No 36 in C (known as the Linz) from 1783. The Adagio has an elegiac introduction, then becoming more sprightly and majestic, stronger and deeper. As always with Mozart there is a gentle teasing and flirtatiousness in this melodious movement with an insistent repetition of the refrain. The rich harmonic textures of the Orchestra of Opera North are both vivacious and graceful.

In the Allegro spiritoso the pace shifts up a notch with a climatic series of false endings. The Poco Adagio sees a reworking of themes under the gentle but empowering leadership of conductor Richard Farnes (pictured) with some fine bow work from the strings and delightful transitions of mood.

After the short but lively Menuetto comes the vibrant and virulent finale of the Presto. Here Farnes’ conducting almost takes on the nature of a sublime ballet which receives a rich response from the orchestra.

The magical Mozart was followed by an exquisite rendition of Mahler’s melancholy song cycle Das Lied von Erde (The Song of the Earth), a setting of beautiful but mainly morose 8th century Chinese poems. The Drinking Song contrasts hedonistic and spiritual outlooks on life, clear as a bell with Peter Hoare’s fabulous projection. The refrain, ‘Dark is death, dark is life’ is reiterated with orchestral splendour.

The Lonely One in Autumn treats us to glorious voice of Jean Rigby recounting the tale of a melancholic in search of solace. From such a mood Of Youth is a gentle release, full of hope and optimism (which must have been pretty difficult for Mahler given his private life at the time of composition).

Of Beauty sees the orchestra full of vibrant energy with a beatific and soft ending. The comic Drunkard in Spring is full of the joys of life without responsibilities while The Farewell’s haunting intro gives way to dramatic changes of mood and a sense of foreboding (the inevitability of death?) Throughout Farnes’ orchestral interpretation of the words is simply sublime, if at times progressively darker and darker, brooding yet nostalgic.

2 February, Leeds Town Hall

www.leedsconcertseason.com
www.operanorth.co.uk

Rich Jevons

Written by admin · Filed Under Reviews 

Comments

Comments are closed.