The Barbican in London was the setting for a captivating BBC Symphony Orchestra concert that masterfully wove together themes of nature and folklore. Under the baton of Sakari Oramo, the programme transported the audience from the arid landscapes of India to the mystical gardens of Russian legend, showcasing a diverse and evocative musical journey.
Judith Weir's Monsoon-Inspired Opener
Judith Weir's composition, The Welcome Arrival of Rain, served as the evening's opening piece. Originally conceived without a specific narrative, Weir later associated the music with the dramatic onset of the monsoon, bringing life-giving water to parched earth. The work features glittering fanfares that soar skyward, answered by shimmering string sections, before tom-toms and timpani introduce a powerful series of variations. Sakari Oramo expertly guided the orchestra, ensuring every detail shone brightly, even if the anticipated musical deluge remained subtly understated.
Yeol Eum Son's Poetic Piano Performances
South Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son delivered a mesmerising performance as the soloist in Bartók's Third Piano Concerto. Her playing was characterised by crisp clarity and poetic flourishes, beautifully articulating the folk song-inflected melodies. She navigated the lush romantic passages with impressive muscularity, while the slow movement revealed profound Bachian undertones through her expansive interpretation. Son's performance was rich with expressive insights, fostering a palpable sense of dialogue with the orchestra. The finale, with its piquant Hungarian rhythms, was executed with remarkable elegance and restraint.
Demonstrating her eclectic musical tastes, Son also presented Gerald Finzi's Eclogue, a gem of a piece that blurs the lines between the opening aria of Bach's Goldberg Variations and Finzi's masterful settings of Thomas Hardy's poetry. Her lightness of touch and graceful counterpoint with the velvety strings of the BBC Symphony Orchestra created a truly scrumptious auditory experience.
Sakari Oramo's Conductive Mastery
Sakari Oramo's conducting style, which prioritises allowing the composer's voice to emerge naturally, made him an ideal interpreter for the evening's repertoire. This approach was particularly effective in Stravinsky's Firebird suite, where his colourful reading ensured tempi and dynamics felt perfectly balanced. Despite a few minor orchestral imperfections, the performance vividly brought to life the enchanted Firebird's pirouettes, the frolicking princesses, and the wickedly dissonant magician's infernal capers. The concert concluded with Stravinsky's tongue-in-cheek Gallop, serving as a well-deserved and delightful encore.
A Cohesive Thematic Journey
The programme's focus on nature and folk themes provided a cohesive thread throughout the evening. From Weir's tribute to the Indian monsoon to Bartók's evocation of nocturnal sounds on the Hungarian steppe, and Finzi's homage to the North Hampshire Downs, each piece contributed to a broader narrative. The magical elements of Stravinsky's Firebird added a fantastical dimension, ensuring the concert offered both intellectual depth and emotional resonance. This thoughtfully curated selection highlighted the BBC Symphony Orchestra's versatility and artistic vision under Oramo's leadership.
