Beethoven’s Heroic Symphony

At the beginning of this year QSO promised audiences a “newly invigorated and re-imagined” orchestra and that’s what we got - exciting and passionate programs with a wonderful mix of the old and the new. Under Alondra de la Parra’s leadership there’s no doubt the orchestra has gone from strength to strength, audiences are bigger and every concert is now recorded for broadcast on ABC FM.

The headliner of this final concert is Beethoven’s Heroic Symphony but the star of the night was Caracas born double-bassist Edicson Ruiz, giving the world premiere performance of Efrain Oscher’s Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra. He was magnificent and so was the Concerto. It’s the latest in a series of six compositions the composer has written for the acclaimed virtuoso performer.

Having lived in South America for many years the work spoke to me on a very personal level with its use of Latin rhythms from the Caribbean and its folkloric themes. I loved it.

And Ruiz, a rock-star of the double-bass, was the perfect ambassador for it. His bow work was incredible, lightly skipping over the strings and producing a sweet vibrato that added poignancy to the lyrical Soledad the second movement’s main theme.

The concert opened with a fine reading of Mozart’s Symphony No. 31 in D Major, better known as the Paris Symphony. The violins were in excellent form and excelled with dynamic and clear articulation, especially in the frenzied opening allegro.

Beethoven’s Heroic Symphony still lives up to its reputation as the finest symphony ever written and this was a convincing interpretation of it - spectacular playing from the brass and woodwinds, great work from the strings, and a finale overflowing with exuberance.

Alondra, the orchestra, and especially Edicson deserve major accolades!

Peter Pinne