The Metropolitan Orchestra (TMO) opened their 2016 concert series at the Eugene Goossens Hall on 20 February with a delightful program of string works by Rojas, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky.
This wonderful orchestra has a faithful band of followers, which adds an additional level of conviviality to all their concerts.
The opening item was a new revision of Little Serenade for Strings by Daniel Rojas. This exciting work features strong Afro-Cuban elements with a beautiful tangoesque second movement and percussive final movement which involves the whole body of each player. The third movement featured lyrical cello sections supported by the exquisite string playing of the whole orchestra.
The second item was the much loved Serenade for Strings in E Major Opus 22 by Antonin Dvorak. The five very different movements of this piece gave each section of the orchestra a chance to show what they could do. I was particularly impressed by the wonderful viola line-up.
The last movement was the Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings in C Major Opus 48. This much loved piece has intense and rich double bass lines, light hearted sections, balletic swoon parts and a beautiful final movement based on folk dances. When you listen to this you realise that all of Tchaikovsky’s music is danceable, not just the ballets!
The audience was treated to a very upbeat version of a Piazzola’s tango as an encore which definitely left us on a high note.
The TMO is a fun orchestra, but would not be at the standard it is without their outstanding conductor, Sarah-Grace Williams, who is able to draw out the musicality in each player and weld them into a wonderful orchestra with a great sound.
An accurate and appropriately positive review of this fine orchestra and the works performed. The second major work after interval, Tchaikovski’s Serenade for Strings was particularly well done and pleasing. The encore, Piazzola’s Tango a real surprise, was a refreshing contrast that finally energised a very static audience.