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Three Great Romantics | Melbourne Symphony Orchestra |
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Written by Melita Pereira
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Sunday, 31 August 2008 |
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's Three
Great Romantics concert opened with the Overture from Carl Maria Von Weber’s
romantic opera, Oberon. Inspired by a
poem written by James Robinson Planche, Oberon
tells the story of Oberon, the elf-king, who is magically summoned to save Sir
Huon of Bordeaux. A piece begins with a solo horn which is met by the
“answering sounds” of evocative violins from Oberon’s elf-world.
The second piece of the evening, Piano Concert
in A minor, Op. 54 was composed by Robert Schumann to his love for
his pianist wife Clara. Premiered in Leipzig on New Year’s Day in 1846, the
piece contains a central musical theme which is woven between the piano and the
ensemble. Containing three movements, the tranquil and emotive piano solo which
underscores the piece was played by Sydney International Piano Competition
winner, John Chen.
Beginning as an “expressive reverie”,
Schumann’s first movement allegro
affettuoso delineates a dialogue between the “heralding” oboe before a
“return to earlier debates interrupts this dream” launching the soloist into
“an extended cadenza, capped by a quick coda”. The grace and texture with which
Chen navigates across the keys in the third movement Allegro Vivace is commanding and dazzling as the piece’s “theme
surfaces buoyantly through harmonic sequences that build to an exhilarating
conclusion”.
Following the intermission, conductor Oleg
Caetani explains that Johannes Brahms thought of his Serenade No. 1 in D, Op.
11 as a fusion which he called a “symphony-serenade”. Though the word
“symphony” was later crossed out from the title by Brahms, the symphonic
elements which permeate the entire piece are unmistakeable. Brahm’s flair for
the elegant results in a piece emboldened by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s
brilliant interplay of clarinets, bassoons, cellos, flues and violin. An exuberant and vivacious surprise encore
performance of Brahm’s Hungarian Dance No. 1, filled the Melbourne Town Hall
with the majesty of violins as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra brought the
concert to a triumphant close.
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
THREE GREAT ROMANTICS
Venue:
Melbourne Town Hall
Date/Time: Friday 29 August at 7.30pm
Bookings: www.mso.com.au or Ticketmaster on 1300 136 166
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