SAVOURING THE MAGIC OF BEETHOVEN
THE York Symphony Orchestra, under its conductor, Dr. Francis Jackson, gave a concert in the Minster last night to a large and appreciative audience.
The programme began with one of the symphonies of William Boyce. This work, written in the style of the late baroque overture, suited the acoustics of the Minster. The rather exaggerated phrasing from strings came over well, though occasionally the bowing led to misplaced accented notes.
A complete change of style was required for Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn. Some sections were beautifully played - the theme itself, for instance, and the Grazioso Variation. There grew a heaviness, however, due to a lack of sparkle from woodwind and brass - in the more brilliant variations. Only in the Finale did one feel the compelling power of this music.
Sympathy
Colin Horsley was the solo pianist in Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto. A piano sounds almost out of place in the nave of the Minster, but Mr. Horsley was able to convey to the audience every shade of expression contained in this great work.
The orchestra excelled itself and the sympathy between soloist and orchestra more than compensated for the lack of clarity in some passages.
One is left savouring the memory of the candenzas, the magic of the second movement caught by all the players, and the delicacy as well as the boisterous playfulness of the last movement. This, as one would expect, proved to be the highlight of the evening.
Shallow
The programme concluded with a Festive Overture by Kenneth Leighton - a piece recently composed with amateur orchestras in mind.
It was well played, but appeared shallow after the Beethoven work. The continual repetition of small motives and single notes became oppressive, and even the noise from the percussion department at the end could not convince one that any real growth had taken place.
B.J.P.