An Emotional Rollercoaster

It has often been stated that Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera was arguably the finest composer South America ever produced and after listening to fellow Latin,Sergio Tiempo playing his Concerto No. 1 you would get no argument from me. This atonal work built on a twelve-tone scale is theatrically dramatic, bold and passionate with moments of underlying rage and volcanic power, and in Tiempo’s dazzling hands a bravura showpiece. The second movement’s Malambo dance rhythm added exotica and a touch of jazz to the mix, whilst the muted sounds of night, with creatures scampering in and out of the shadows, was eerie and reminiscent of Bartok and Bernstein. The percussion-heavy finale Toccata concertina relentlessly pounded the ear-drums and the excitement it generated was palpable throughout the hall. Ginastera could not have had a better ambassador than the Venezualian born Tiempo who’s currently QSO’s Artist in Residence 2018. His performance was brilliantly showy and technically flawless. He followed with an unscripted solo-encore of the same composer’s Danza de la moza donosa (Dance of the Beautiful Maiden), a most beguiling romantic excerpt.

Last night’s curtain raiser was Debussy’s ubiquitous symphonic poem Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun. A popular choice, the ambience of the work was in evidence from the beginning with a velvety flute solo that established the piece’s main theme as it wandered up and down the chromatic scale aided by harp glissandos. Following the exhilarating high of the Ginastera Concerto, we were back in familiar European territory with Brahms Symphony No. 4, his last and best Symphony and the only one that ends in a minor key,which closed the concert.

The triumphant finale in which he uses every instrument in the orchestra was rich and joyous, aided by the lively podium presence of 25-year old English conductor Alexander Prior. A composer in his own right, Prior’s unquestionable orchestral expertise was evident throughout which the audience thunderously acknowledged. The whole evening delivered what it promised, An Emotional Rollercoaster ride!

Peter Pinne                    

Photographer: Peter Wallis