Congratulations to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. It has moved on from Bach-Beethoven-Brahms and given us a treat with Bree van Reyk’s Fanfare for Solidarity, a three-minute piece the SSO commissioned as part of the its 50 Fanfares Project. This short opening piece was performed by three percussionists stage front, on tambourines. What fun.
The two following pieces were a homage to 20th-century American music: Korngold’s filmic flair and Bernstein’s Broadway exuberance. Seventeen-year-old Christian Li captivated the audience with the three-movement Korngold. Unlike some soloists, Li graciously seemed part of the orchestra rather than going for the flair and exaggerations exhibited by some older soloists. His demeanour was most welcome. His command of the violin was superb with the full depth of technical prowess Korngold’s lush concerto demands.
The audience’s ovation demanded that Li return to the stage. He played Massenet’s meditation for us, and again, just beautifully.
Then conductor Eduardo Strausser led the orchestra through Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story with precision and energy. The ensemble captured the rhythmic vitality from the tension of Somewhere to the exuberant Mambo. With a bevy of eight double basses, deep vibrations swelled the Hall. The performance highlighted the orchestra’s versatility and deep understanding of Bernstein’s complex rhythms and harmonies.
I attended the performance on 11:00AM on Jun 27. The Saturday June 28 performance will include George Gershwin’s Cuban Overture. The 11am event is billed as Tea and Symphony. Audience members definitely enjoyed the free cuppa and bickie as they came out of the cold and wind.
Royal Caribbean is the concert’s presenting partner and with the audience of older music lovers, it knows where to find prospective cruisers. There was also a contingent of high school students.
Well done, Sydney Symphony Orchestra – from the surprise tambourine opening to the final note of West Side Story.
