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Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd , UK
Evening Mail
October 5, 2004
WHAT'S ON: REVIEWS: MASTERFUL MUSICIANS ON SHOW
by DIANE PARKES
BIRMINGHAM'S Symphony Orchestra celebrated the centenary of the birth
of Czech composer Antonin Dvorak with a rousing performance of his
Symphony No 7.
Pushed firmly into the background by Dvorak's more popular works,
this evening gave this piece a well-deserved airing.
It shows Dvorak's deep connection with the traditional music of his
homeland but reveals his success in fusing it with the symphonic
expectations of his time. Dvorak's mastery of musical form was also
celebrated in his Carnival Overture. In less than ten minutes it took
the audience through a whirl of emotions, catching the party
atmosphere of the carnival.
Sandwiched inbetween was Beethoven's Violin Concerto. Here Armenian
soloist Sergei Khacatrian showed incredible mastery of the piece -
the maturity of his performance belying his teenage years. The CBSO,
under the baton of visiting conductor Walter Weller, proved a more
than able counter to the soloist.
And its lively performance of the two Dvorak pieces hopefully
convinced us there is a lot more to this composer than the New World
Symphony.
Evening Mail
October 5, 2004
WHAT'S ON: REVIEWS: MASTERFUL MUSICIANS ON SHOW
by DIANE PARKES
BIRMINGHAM'S Symphony Orchestra celebrated the centenary of the birth
of Czech composer Antonin Dvorak with a rousing performance of his
Symphony No 7.
Pushed firmly into the background by Dvorak's more popular works,
this evening gave this piece a well-deserved airing.
It shows Dvorak's deep connection with the traditional music of his
homeland but reveals his success in fusing it with the symphonic
expectations of his time. Dvorak's mastery of musical form was also
celebrated in his Carnival Overture. In less than ten minutes it took
the audience through a whirl of emotions, catching the party
atmosphere of the carnival.
Sandwiched inbetween was Beethoven's Violin Concerto. Here Armenian
soloist Sergei Khacatrian showed incredible mastery of the piece -
the maturity of his performance belying his teenage years. The CBSO,
under the baton of visiting conductor Walter Weller, proved a more
than able counter to the soloist.
And its lively performance of the two Dvorak pieces hopefully
convinced us there is a lot more to this composer than the New World
Symphony.