This evening, performing upon the hallowed stage that is Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, the Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra performing together in their current membership for the last time. Most of the orchestra members are in their final year at the school, and as such, this is their final public performance as Chetham’s students.
The first half of this evening’s concert was somewhat on the long side. We heard two concertos in their entirety.
First was Richard Harvey’s 'Concerto Incantato' for recorder and chamber orchestra. Conducted by Grant Llewllyn, this was a concerto in five movements, and our skilful Chetham’s student soloist, Anna Williams, playing four different recorders, somehow managed to make this “primary school horror” of an instrument sound both melodic and sweet. Her mastery of the instrument was obvious, in this melodious and tuneful piece of writing. The second movement reminded me very much of my Celtic homeland, a truly “heimweh” moment for me. All five movements have recurring themes and motifs thus making the music a single piece with all the five movements connected; but it also did have the effect of making it a little monotonous after a while.
The second concerto was Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto. Of course, there was no way they would have known, but this piano concerto just happens to be in my top 5 all-time favourite piano compositions, and as such, it is a work I know backwards. I am more than happy to report that the orchestra, again under Grant Llewellyn, sounded superb (in fact, I closed my eyes for half of this, and I was unable to distinguish these students’ playing from the professionals). Not only that but the pianist they found to play this, another graduating student, Jamie Brown, was absolutely phenomenal.
Perhaps this concerto has one of the most iconic and dramatic openings ever (along with Grieg and Tchaikovsky), and this instantly recognisable Russian folk song is interpolated into the main body of the concerto in a way only Rachmaninov – himself a master pianist – could do. The second movement starts with a beautifully lyrical slow passage, with a melody so beautiful, even the pop culture heard it and made a plaintive love song from it…’All By Myself’. Brown’s interpretation was just phenomenal; a genius talent waiting to be discovered. And, as a jolly wee encore he played a short section of the piano version of Gerschwin’s ‘I Got Rhythm’. Flashy, humorous, and brilliant!
After the interval and we returned to hear a short piece conducted by Chetham’s graduating student Isaac Chan. As a way of bidding a fond farewell to these year 13 students, they were given rein to play the Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut by Puccini. Again, the talent that comes from Chetham’s is unbelievable. Chan’s conducting was lovely to watch as he took his fellow students through the whole gamut of emotion during this short piece with great skill and obvious love.
And so to the final piece of the evening; William Walton’s raucous and thrilling oratorio, ‘Balshazzar’s Feast’. This is a tour-de-force for choir; and so the Chetham’s Chorus was ameliorated with Chetham’s Alumni Chorus and The St. George’s Singers, meaning that on the choir seats above the orchestra were more than 170 singers! The work also calls for organ (Chetham’s student), and baritone solo. For this, we welcomed New Zealand opera singer, Benson Wilson.
Wilson’s vocals were clear and articulate and his Maori heritage providing a lush and mellow tone, whilst Llewellyn’s conducting once again wringing as much from the orchestra as he possibly could. The cumulative sound of the choir was amazing. They provided a powerful and complete sound; loud, thrilling, goose-bump-inducing sound to this twentieth century bombast, of which Walton was undoubtedly master.
A huge shame that there were no programmes available this evening. It would have been much more enjoyable to have had the above information at one’s fingertips beforehand. Moreover, this was a very long concert by classical music concerts standards. Two hours including interval is the accepted norm these days, and as such this concert was 45 minutes too long! Not that that mattered for me, so involved with the music, and in awe of the talent on display was I, that time passed unnoticed.
Bravissimi tutti!
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 6.7.23
on - 6.7.23
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