The UK premiere of Wynton Marsalis's Concerto for Orchestra took place at the BBC Proms, following the trumpeter and composer's appearance at the Edinburgh festival with his 1999 jazz symphony All Rise. The Concerto, in contrast to the sprawling ambition of All Rise, finds Marsalis in a genial, playful tribute to musical Americana.
Playful and Punchy Concerto
The tuba serves as a deadpan commentator throughout the Concerto's six compact movements. A six-strong percussion section throws cheeky rhythmic barbs at the rest of the orchestra, who respond lyrically at first, then more forthrightly. The two worlds wrestle in dances, marches and a swaggering series of solos, with the tuba ensuring that flick-knives stay sheathed for these orchestral Jets and Sharks. It is glossy, punchy writing, setting aside symphonic development in favour of a restless parade of episodes and invention.
Superb Playing and Gershwin
The BBC Symphony Orchestra played superbly for James Gaffigan, also straight from Edinburgh, locked in to the conductor's sleek groove. Principal trombone Helen Vollam raised her bell skywards for her solo in Testimonials, all rasp and thunder, like a street evangelist.
Jazz and the classical concert hall met for round two in Gershwin's Piano Concerto. South Korea's Yeol Eum Son was an elegant soloist, but against the muscular cut and thrust of Gaffigan's orchestra, her delicacy read as prim, her restraint as rigidity. At times, the sheer weight of ensemble sound swallowed her whole.
Edge-of-Seat Barber
Samuel Barber's Symphony No 1, described by the composer as “dark-toned, Nordic”, had been kept off the Proms roster since its 1941 festival premiere. Gaffigan and the BBCSO demolished it with an urgent, edge-of-seat account of this tautly wrought work, bringing out the noirish quality of the craggy opening Allegro, tension relenting only briefly in the shimmering Andante, before bringing all the lurking threat into focus in a powerful closing passacaglia. It was gripping stuff, a Hitchcock film in sound.
The performance is available on BBC Sounds until 12 October. The Proms continue until 12 September.
