Sergio A. Mims writes:
Below is part of John Gough's recent review of the Sept 27 concert of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla with Sheku Kanneh-Mason performing Elgar's Cello Concerto:
September 29. 2019
CBSO at Symphony Hall *****
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
The
CBSO has had a close association with rising star Sheku Kanneh-Mason
for three years now. This sold-out evening was advertised as “Sheku
plays Elgar” and his fan club was vociferously in evidence, even before
he played a note. He wears the celebrity thrust upon him charmingly,
with a comfortable and unselfconscious platform manner.
After
the striking opening, the concerto received an intimate performance,
full of introspection and sadness, but without indulgence, moving
gently, flowing naturally, as Mirga herself gave a virtuoso display of
the art of accompaniment, giving the soloist all the time he needed to
make his expressive points with never any worries about the balance
between soloist and orchestra. The mercurial second movement was a
triumph of flickering detail which prompted its own brief flurry of
audience applause, but the Adagio third movement was the highlight of
this performance, with lyrical playing and the utmost subtlety of
phrasing and dynamics. The ovation with which the work was received was
calmed only by a beautiful and simply played encore – “Blow the wind
southerly” after which nobody dared move for long seconds.
No comments:
Post a Comment