The umbrella title for this latest sensational programme by the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra (WSO) was MYTHS AND LEGENDS.
Under the energetic emphatic and dynamic baton of maestro Stephen Mould we heard four pieces, one of which was by Solomon John Frank, the winner of the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra /Fine Music 102.5 Young Composer Award.
The programme opened with a dazzling performance of Elena Kats-Chernin’s: Mythic that made you blink, sit up straight and pay intense attention. The work referred in particular to Kats-Chernin’s vision of ‘entering a large, mythic cave’. Her piece featured ominous, flowing strings and sharp, spiky woodwind. There were hints of John William’s music for the Star Wars films and Stravinsky’s The Firebird.
At one point the orchestra was required to go explosively full out. There were cascading, repeated rhythms and the cellos use pizzicato at one point. Stunning.
The second work, Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor, op. 129, featured guest soloist Ruben Palma. This piece was an excellent example of Romanticism with perhaps just a hint of Tchaikovsky.
The Concerto opened briskly and was at darting and dance-like. For most of the work the orchestra staunchly supported the soloist although there were occasional interruptions by the horns and assorted ‘excursions’.
Palma’s performance was sensational, full of lyrical, exquisite playing. Listening intently , absorbed in the music, he caressed his cello. His playing was luminous, including some blisteringly fast allegro, making the cello ‘sing’ with a glorious golden warm tone. His shaping, colouring and mastery of the various nuances of the piece was inspiring.
After interval the winner of the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra /Fine Music 102.5 Young Composer Award was announced and presented to Solomon John Frank and his piece Spectre was then performed.
Inspired by the James Bond 007 films the piece opened with the ‘spy’ or ‘Hitchcock’ chord. It was full of ominous spiky strings and rippling woodwind yet at times twinkled, pulsated and throbbed.Tempestuous, emphatic strings led the lumbering woodwind towards the breathless conclusion.This was a dynamic performance of an exciting piece.
The main part of the second half consisted of a wonderful rendition of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F major, op. 93 in four movements.
The first movement, in elegant sonata form, was light, rollicking and almost dance-like and opened with a very warm tone. For most of the movement the strings had a murmured dialogue with, and supported the rest of the orchestra.
The second movement, performed at a brisk pace, toyed with a metronome motif, and had an insistent undertone from the woodwind. The main melody was taken and stated and then passed around the various orchestral sections.
There was a strong, brisk opening for the third movement with horns interrupting at one point.The rippling, flowing melody was stated by the whole orchestra and then acknowledged by the harp and woodwind.
The final fourth movement had the orchestra going tumultuously full out. There were flourishes and assorted scurries, a wonderful oboe solo, then an unexpected sudden change/turn to a sadder, slower rhythm with the orchestra then hurtling towards a tempestuous conclusion.
This was a thrilling, exciting concert.
Running time- just under two hours including one interval.
The Willoughby Symphony Orchestra performed their concert MYTHS AND LEGENDS at the Concourse, Chatswood on the weekend of the 26th and 27th September