Classical Music: Coenraad Visser
IN its first two concerts this year the Transvaal Philharmonic Orchestra showcased local artists and composers, in this way setting an example hopefully followed by other orchestras in this country.
After a round of competition triumphs overseas Francois du Toit returned home to give a elegant performance of Beethoven’s first piano concerto, by far the most convincing performance Du Toit has given in these parts for years.
The same composer’s triple concerto fared less well, mainly because of a lack of unity of vision and style among the soloists. Suzanne Martens (violin) was by far the more positive and forceful soloist, creating a sense of urgency and momentum too often destroyed by her partners. Veteran Lamar Crowson’s rippling passagework on the piano was a constant delight, although his conception was too small of scale next to Martens’ vibrant sound, and his playing was fastidious to the point of distracting from the music.
Roelof Temmingh’s award-winning Three Sonnets for String Orchestra (1988) is an inventive work, abounding with rhythmic intricacies and orchestral delights. It is a pity that conductor Robert Maxym gave such a literal reading of this work, exploiting so little of the contrasting moods of this suite’s components. Full marks, though, to TPO principals Denis Sutton (violin), Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola) and Toni Mileva-Ivanova (cello) for their idiomatic contributions.
The TPO is presently in top form. In the first concert David Tidboald coaxed an exhilarating performance of Mendelssohn’s fourth symphony (Italian) from the players. In the second concert the orchestral playing was as accomplished in Schumann’s first symphony (Spring), even if Maxym’s reading was rather cold and obvious.
On Sunday at 3:30pm at the Linder Auditorium Christopher Dowdeswell will conduct the TPO in works by Mozart and Beethoven. Yuri Braginski will be the soloist in Beethoven’s violin concerto.