New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hamish McKeich
‘Five by Five – Concert One’
Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Symphony No.5 in C minor
Michael Fowler Centre Monday 24 February
Reviewed by John Button
It isn’t just a good Festival idea to do five popular ‘Fifth Symphonies’ in series of lunchtime concerts – although it is – it makes good sense in other ways as well.
Firstly, lunchtime concerts by the NZSO have slipped off the radar in recent years, yet they are, as orchestras overseas know, a very good way of refreshing and enlarging the audience base.
And secondly, these five concerts are being conducted by two New Zealand-based conductors, both of whom are of a quality better than some of the high priced guest conductors we hear in front of the orchestra.
It will be fascinating to hear them with our flagship orchestra in well known works from the standard repertoire.
And this first concert was a splendid pipe opener to the series. The orchestra on stage had a full complement of strings – Beethoven would have been surprised to see ten cellos – but the extra weight of sound offered no compromise in terms of ensemble or in the inner clarity McKeich was able to achieve.
In both the fiery Coriolan Overture and the Symphony he was nothing if not straightforward. Tempos never dragged, nor were they rushed; everything happened inevitably, without idiosyncracy – almost, anyway – allowing Beethoven to speak without interference, and the playing impressed so early in the NZSO year.
I can’t wait to hear what the charismatic Marc Taddei does with Schubert’s buoyant Fifth Symphony and the Rosamunde Overture on 3rd March.
Ad Feedback
–
