Dvořák: The Noonday Witch
Brahms: Violin Concerto (Soloist: Gina McCormack)
Schumann: Symphony No 1 "Spring"
"Composed performance of Schumann's Spring"
"In his introduction to the concert conductor Stefan Hofkes told us that he felt British audiences did not fully appreciate the music of Robert Schumann. Not even all the orchestra, he said, was fully convinced of the composer's worth.
He then set about illustrating the quality of Schumann's music and his commitment to it spiritedly leading the orchestra in Schumann's Symphony No 1 Spring. If any of the players were not completely convinced of the quality of the work, they did not show it in their response to the conductor's urging.
They responded better, though, than they did during their accompaniment of Gina McCormack's playing Brahms Violin Concerto. On one or two occasions a request for a more controlled sound did not receive an immediate response.
Perhaps because of this at times Gina McCormack's interpretation seemed a little too forceful compared to some of the more attractively played delicate passages.
The audience very much appreciated the conductor's witty introduction to Dvořák's The Noonday Witch, which helped them to enjoy this lively start to the evening which was played in fine style by the orchestra."
Star rating: *** out of *****
(Gerry Parker - Bristol Evening Post - 3 April 2007)
Last updated: 06 April 2007
