Brisbane Reviews

JCNYCC was established by John Curro in 1976 to promote the development of exceptional young Australian string players. Past winners have included Richard Tognetti, Ray Chen, Zoe Black, Emily Sun and Anne Harvey.

What makes a great soloist? Maybe an interpretative imagination, strong communication, technical brilliance harnessed to expressive purpose, the ability to work with a conductor and the confidence to slice through the orchestra as a soloist yet also know when to drop back. Then there’s an authoritative presence and an almost magical capacity to reel in the audience.

Three remarkable young finalists performed, Maggie Wang, cello, Sophie Pan, Violin and Jun Gardiner, cello. Each delivered challenging concertos. Credit must go to the conductor Fabian Russell who directed the Queensland Youth Symphony with aplomb, crucially achieving suitable balances between soloist and ensemble. Producing clean lines and vividly conjuring each composer’s language, Russell contained the players youthful exuberance where appropriate and insightfully mapped each work’s artistic trajectory.

Wang played Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme first. She easefully captured the eloquence and symmetry of this classically framed concerto and each variation was infused with a fresh sound and individual approach. Her solos had poise and direction and her accomplished technique shone in Variation 4 with its rapid passagework and in Variation 6 in how she produced sparkling trills. There were fleeting insecurities but overall her performance had rich potential.

Pan explored Samuel Barber’s lyricism in Violin Concerto op. 14 soulfully and with a beguiling flamboyance often drawing a circle in the air with her bow at the end of sections. Personally invested in the music, her performance had flair and she executed the edgy agitation of the last movement successfully, easefully fulfilling the required virtuosity. Oboist Tina Gallo’s extended solo in the second movement of this work was a delight to listen to.

As soon as Gardiner appeared to perform Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto no. 1 he claimed the stage, inhabited the music, he and his cello a storytelling force. He played the introductory notes with panache before the orchestra joined in and stylishly contributed to a playful spiky landscape with the composer’s D-S-C-H cryptogram expertly exchanged between players. In the second movement, his shaping of the cantilena melody with tonal radiance and heartfelt coherence impressed as did his keening delivery of the haunting harmonics. French Horn player Thomas Ferreira-Montague was superb and made a commendable contribution to the entire program.

While the judges decided on the winner, Matthew Nash, a promising conductor who only last year played trumpet with the QYS, commanded a vivid Pines of Rome by Respighi. He exploited the bountiful enthusiasm of the orchestra letting the more robust brass and percussion fuelled passages soar and yet he also honoured the subdued Pini Presso Una Catacomb.

Jun Gardiner was this year’s deserving winner. This entertaining event was a feather in the cap for the QYS. Despite the demanding program, the orchestra provided admirable support always attentive and responsive to the contestants.

Gillian’s debut novel Big Music will be launched at Brisbane’s Books@Stones at 6.30 on the 24 October. Tickets are free but booking is essential. Click here for bookings