By Joel Carnegia
MUSIC
THE ROMANTICS: BRAHMS, SCHUMANN AND STRAUSS ★★★1/2
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Hamer Hall, July 3-5
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra delved into the realm of the romantic, in a concert featuring works by Brahms, Schumann, Strauss and Grainger.
Under the stylish direction of conductor Sir Andrew Davis, the orchestra made a pronounced opening statement with Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, a work that reflects the jovial aspects of student life. The orchestra appeared to be in a celebratory mood, with a beefy brass chorale offering a rousing opening to the concert.
Soloist Truls Mørk offered a fine technical display and outpouring of emotion in the first section of Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor. Delicate countermelodies flowed back and forth across the orchestra, yet the work seemed to slowly lose its sense of momentum. This was regained later in the performance, with a beautiful interplay between soloist and leader of the orchestral cellos, David Berlin. An unnamed slow solo cello work was offered as a pre-interval encore, yet while exquisitely mournful, came across as an indulgence rather than a necessity.
Following interval, the orchestra was back in full flight, with Richard Strauss’ Don Juan offering an explosion of sound. The orchestra told the almost dreamlike story of Don Juan, who undertakes a series of conquests before his untimely demise. Jeffrey Crellin’s oboe work and the leadership skills of Dale Barltrop and Wilma Smith were impressive. Grainger’s episodic The Warriors concluded the evening, with its evocative and exultant material providing ample enjoyment for both orchestra and audience.