Bax: Tintagel
Bartók: Dance Suite
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No 3 (Soloist: Alan Weiss)
"My last visit to the beautiful St George's Bristol had been for a thrilling performance of the second piano concerto by Sergei Rachmaninov, this time the stakes were even higher with his mammoth third concerto on the programme.
American pianist Alan Weiss, with impressive CV, had flown in to Bristol to take on the challenge and he rose to it in a tremendous way.
Performed with a thrilling vitality and energy, his playing capturing all the different moods, and creating a magical palette of different colours, this interpretation raised the roof. At times it was a challenge for the orchestra to keep up with the sudden shifts of tempo but they stuck with it convincingly and gave solid support.
The final coda with its big melodic phrases swept the audience off their feet, giving Doctor Weiss a well deserved standing ovation.
The orchestra had taken centre stage for the first half, giving good performances of Bax's Tintagel and Bartok's exciting Dance Suite. Apart from some suspect woodwind intonation these were very atmospheric and powerful renditions, the Bristol Concert Orchestra being on top form for their conductor Stefan Hofkes, who had warmed us all up nicely with his comical introductions.
I will certainly look forward to the next occasion... Rachmaninov's 4th concerto possibly?"
Review by 'Cantabile' - 12 December 2007
'Cantabile' also writes for the Reading Chronicle and the Newbury Weekly
Last updated: 12 December 2007
