It was all about the spirit of youth tonight as Manchester's Hallé, one of our best symphonic orchestras, tuned up for an outstanding performance.
Under the witty and welcoming aegis of conductor Sir Mark Elder, the orchestra kicked off with those famous teenage lovers, Romeo and Juliet. This is one of Tchaikovsky's most loved compositions, first performed in 1870. We have the feud between the Montagues and Capulets as the strings race in all directions. But then the rhythm gathers speed, rises to a passionate crescendo and, as it peaks, the refrain soars through clouds of ecstasy. The power of true love! But young love is doomed, as fragile as it is intense. The piece ends with a moderato, from love theme to lament, as the concluding chords grieve for youth destroyed.
The second selection on the programme was Shostakovich's piano concerto, No 2 in F, written for his beloved teenage son in 1957. Cue the evening's guest star, pianist Ben Grosvenor, the boy with the beautiful hands. At the tender age of eleven, he won Young Musician of the Year. Now, still only 22, Ben delighted music lovers with a rendition as sharp as a knife. What talented fingers!
After the intermission, we had Janacek's Suite from the Cunning Vixens. Before the first note was struck, Sir Mark reassured us, this wasn't 'Modern.' No, not some ghastly track of atonal, offbeat experiments, but rather, a sumptuous composition, filled with harmonies and melodies. The opera itself concerns a fox cub, trapped and separated from her forest home. Caged up with chickens, there can only be one way out for the little vixen, one path to freedom. And the chickens aren't going to like it.
The evening ended with Benjamin Britten's perennial favourite; The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Four talented young voice-actors came on stage at this conjecture, to lead us through the families of instruments. This was particularly well done. As well as their mellifluous voices, wisely, the script has been updated from the 1945 original. Now we have comparisons to Riverdance, Strictly, even intergalactic battles. A deft touch to bring in some humour and make it relevant for the today's schoolchildren.
The Hallé, as you'd expect, gave a performance that was beyond perfection. These four great compositions did what classical music does best. That is, firing up the soul with emotion. An inspiring and uplifting concert for all.
The Hallé performed at the Royal Concert Hall on Tuesday 2 June 2015.
For more information on the classical music series at the Royal Concert Hall visit the website.
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