Bristol University Music Society Concert at St George's in Bristol - Review
Posted on: 2015-03-03
Our rating:
Heartfelt and impassioned performances that made the hairs stand on the back of the neck, these musical masterpieces were played with effortless, consummate skill by some of the finest young musical talent in the city.
There's absolutely no doubt the musical future of this city is in supremely confident and unquestionably talented hands, as the Bristol University Music Society concert at St George's Bristol proved on Sunday 1 March 2015.
The University Chamber Orchestra took on a bold and daring programme with Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F Major (Pastoral) and Faure's Requiem in D Minor. These are sometimes tricky, sometimes deceptively simple compositions that, in the wrong hands, could have gone disastrously, embarrasingly wrong. No such worries here though. The result was simply outstanding.
Conductor Joshua Hargreaves lead the orchestra in Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. It's one of the few pieces of the composer's ouevre that was specifically 'programmatic' and which uses certain instruments to represent the sounds of birdsong, a cuckoo, a flowing brook and a tempestuous thunderdstorm. Structure-wise, it's also unique in that it comprises of five, rather than the standard four, movements.
The opening section is spritely, joyous and optimistic, the second tranquil with the flute, oboe and clarinet amusingly representing the nightingale, quail and cuckoo. The third movement scherzo ebulliently depicts the festival-like spirit of country life, merry and jovial, while the pounding, rolling timpani represents the thundertorm and the striking strings the lightning before it all seques serenely into the absolutely gorgeous, mellifluous string-led climax.
Gabriel Faure wrote his Requiem in D Minor, to quote the man himself, 'for the pleasure of it'. And who can argue with that? Because the resultant work - conducted by Douglas V Watts - is one of the most moving, sublime, mysterious, tender, illuminating and exquisite of the entire Requiem repertoire.
Unlike, for example, Verdi or Berlioz' Requiems, this one is much more low-key, tender and intimate, and soprano and baritone soloists Phoebe Pimlott and Thomas Niesser brought their powerfully celestial vocal talents to the piece. The huge choir was equally sensational, oscillating between passages of muscular, Herculean force and intimate, benevolent beauty.
The musicianship on display here was genuinely staggering and inspiring. The pieces were confidently played and expertly interpreted, the instrumentalists and singers consistently solid and tight with a thorough command of musical material by two of classical music's omnipotent giants.
Heartfelt and impassioned performances that made the hairs stand on the back of the neck, these musical masterpieces were played with effortless, consummate skill by some of the finest young musical talent in the city.
5/5
Reviewed by Jamie Caddick for 365Bristol - the leading events and entertainment website for Bristol
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
