The final Met Series concert for 2014 saw TMO in fine form delivering drama and atmosphere within the structure of works by Mozart, Sibelius and Brahms. The soloist for this evening was violinist Kirsten Williams, accompanied attentively by the orchestra.
Opening the program was the overture to Mozart’s opera ‘The Magic Flute’. Its contrasted sections of solemn and energetic music evoked the colourful layers of this fanciful story well. It was also a suitable prelude to the drama waiting to unfold in the Met Concert program.
In the hands of Kirsten Williams, excerpts from Sibelius’ Violin Concerto showed a mastery of rendering the sprawling melodic lines and constant changes of mood. Her tone was searching and pure in the upper register. There was a pleasing rapport with TMO, which supported with warm tone and consistency of mood alongside the soloist. The hushed anticipation in strings for the opening to the first movement was exquisite.
Williams also offered us a finely characterised tango by Piazolla. Accompanied by upper strings, she delivered the atmosphere of this work to us as a piece to discover, enjoy and to be a delicious contrast to the programmed works surrounding it.
The finale to this concert was no less than the Symphony No 4 in E Minor, Op 98. During the works’ substantial set of four movements, the continued discipline and attention to detail of TMO’s players ensured variety and excitement as conductor Sarah-Grace Williams led them to a successful close to the 2014 Sydney concert season.
The uniqueness and expressive possibilities of Brahms were explored well. The first movement opened with a steady tempo, allowing the well-known rising and falling theme to speak with elegance as well as subtle urgency.
A delightfully varied palette of development is provided any orchestra by Brahms in this work. Whether realising the moments with horn calls, brass choir, textures gilded with tremolos on triangle or timpani, the resources of the TMO employed considerable skill of interplay and ensemble to celebrate this nineteenth century classic.
A sold out Eugene Goosens Hall for the single concert of this program was a well-deserved conclusion to TMO’s efforts in 2014. This year once again saw the versatile orchestra perform not only the four Met Series concerts but as well a concert with the Sydney Chamber Choir and two further family concerts in Balmain.
The 2015 season looks equally rewarding for audiences. Next week TMO join a host of other Australian and International stars on the cruise ship Radiance of the Seas for the Bravo Cruise of the Performing Arts.
For more about The Metropolitan Orchestra, visit http://www.metorchestra.com.au