CLASSICALMUSIC: Coenraad Visser A REMARKABLE feast was served to concert- goers in Gauteng over the last ten days – ”period” performances of baroque works led by one of the leading lights of the authentic performance movement; the first South African exposure to one of the most important works in the American symphonic repertoire and a rare performance of a true French masterpiece.
Roy Goodman, best known as a conductor for his superb recordings of the Haydn symphonies with the Hanover Band, brought the European Union Baroque Orchestra with him. Its members are conservatory graduates who preparing for professional baroque careers.
In a programme of works by Telemann, Corelli, Handel, Vivaldi, Albinoni and Bach, Goodman soon established a convincing and appealing performance style – consistently alert and rhythmically fresh readings, not without warmth, but without tinges of later periods. The orchestra members are already accomplished performers, making light of the additional difficulties posed by their instruments.
Of the soloists, Robert Farley (trumpet) was extraordinary, while soprano Susan Ryden made the most of a small voice with crystalline overtones in the upper register, a constant delight. This group’s performances next week in Cape Town and Stellenbosch should not be missed at any cost.
Conducting the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), African-American conductor Leslie Dunner gave a bold yet well-considered reading of Copland’s Third Symphony, one of the great symphonic works of this century. Yet, while the brashness of the writing was fully exploited by an orchestra in fine form, there was occasion to heed the composer’s request for simplicity of expression. Still, Dunner’s reading in his first performance of this work holds much promise.
In Ravel’s Daphnis et Cloe suites, however, Dunner and the NSO could not quite impart the sensuousness and distinct Gallic charm pervading this work. Although the performance was well-drilled and cleanly executed, it lacked atmosphere and a sense of the the elusive French style. It was a respite, though, from the more traditional fare often dished up.
Dunner’s soloists disappointed. Ilya Kaler bulldozed his way through the Sibelius violin concerto, while Vitali Samishko’s memory let him down badly in Beethoven’s second piano concerto. There does not seem to be any reason to invite either soloist back in future. The European Union Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Roy Goodman, perform works by Vivaldi, Albinoni, Scarlatti and Handel on Tuesday in the Cape Town City Hall