REVIEW: John Wilson – Monday Night Live British Classics, City Halls, Glasgow
“Conductor John Wilson, well known for his interpretations of American music, leads the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in an exploration of the varied work of British composers active in the first half of the 20th Century.
Paul Watkins, acclaimed for his performances of British Music, joins the orchestra as soloist in Gerald Finzi’s Cello Concerto, a work imbued with characteristic lyricism but with darker undertones, written shortly before the composer’s untimely death in 1956.
And the concert, broadcast live on Radio 3, concludes with 2 works: Holst’s Ballet Music from his doomed opera, The Perfect Fool; and Arnold Bax’s, The Garden of Fand, an orchestral tone poem inspired by the ancient Celtic folklore in which the composer was steeped.”
It would be a waste of words to talk about the technicalities of the playing, the complexities of the music or the astounding talent of John Wilson. All that needs to be said is that this was a tremendously entertaining evening of beautiful music, played by phenomenally talented musicians, led by one of the world’s best conductors in a venue that boasts some of the best accoustics in the world, and a bargain at only £10 – simply perfect.
Look out for further performances at City Halls: http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/
More information about the Scottish Symphony Orchestra at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/bbcsso/
John Wilson at: http://www.johnwilsonorchestra.com/
Music:
Walton – Portsmouth Point: An Overture (c.6′)
Finzi – Cello Concerto in A minor, Op.40 (c.40′)
Holst – The Perfect Fool: Ballet Music (c.12′)
Bax – The Garden of Fand: tone poem (c.17′)