As part of the RNCM's regular Thursday lunchtime concert series, and their continuing collaborations with professional orchestras and musicians playing side-by-side with their current students; this afternoon saw RNCM instrumentalists take seats in amongst soloists from The Chamber Orchestra Of Europe to perform Dvorak's perhaps most personal symphony, his 8th (originally no 4).
With a stirring score of Czech folk melodies and a cri-du-coeur for his homeland and the beauty and majesty of the Bohemian scenery, this piece of music strangely feels even more poignant and relevant when placed directly behind his final symphony (no 9) in which he creates the same stir and passion for the USA, 'From The New World'!
In this afternoon's performance the orchestra was led from the leader's seat with no actual conductor, by Mats Zetterqvist. Using a smaller-than-usual orchestra made the themes and individual melodies seem much clearer than they would have done in amongst a full-size symphony orchestra; but that was not the main reason this rendition sounded a little different. For that we must turn our attention to Zetterqvist's direction. Working with the orchestra in very much the same way Gabor Takacs-Nagy does with the Mozart works he presents with Manchester Camerata, he gives the work a much more intense and personal slant. A much more considered and weighty interpretation is created; all the notes are the same and are all played in the correct order, but pauses have been perhaps lengthened, dynamics augmented, highlighting a certain passage, melody fragment or solo instrument, making it more intense and meaningful. This, I understand, is not to everyone's taste, but it does bring out a fresh and interesting interpretation to a work which might otherwise have stayed in the music library drawer in favour of something more contemporary.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 23.2.23
on - 23.2.23
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