22nd July 2024
Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom
SCHOENBERG Pelleas und Melisande
ZEMLINSKY Die Seejungfrau
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Ryan Bancroft (conductor)
Let's kick off the 2024 season with a sumptuous orchestral feast, a re-enactment of a 1905 programme that paired Schoenberg's early, ultra-Romantic Pelleas und Melisande with Zemlinsky's Die Seejungfrau. Offering this programme early season on a Monday meant attendance was 30% at best. It's a real shame that people missed out on such a fabulous performance of these rare gems - if it weren't Schoenberg's 150, these two works are hardly performed at all. Two 45-minute emotional rollercoasters back-to-back - sweeping melodies, lush harmonies, big sounds, rich orchestrations, it was a lot to take in. Schoenberg likes writing about the passion of unfaithful women (c.f. also Verklärte Nacht); his brother-in-law Zemlinsky suffered, in real life, from heartbreak from a woman who eventually married Mahler (and we know what happened after that), and ended up writing this gigantic work on Hans Christian Andersen's story where the mermaid pursues a prince who doesn't love her back. Oh, love, German Romanticism at its very charming best. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Ryan Bancroft was outstanding throughout. Well rehearsed, well balanced, well executed, excellent narratives, top-notched playing and most importantly, incredibly fun. Sustaining the hyper-charged mood for two massive works was hard as it was, it was refreshing to see everybody pouring their hearts and soul into the performance, taking risks at the edge of the seat for these demanding scores throughout. Sure, they are not big names (which was why attendance was poor), but I'd rather see this high level of passionate playing than some big names autopiloting Stravinsky. It was definitely an "I am glad to be alive to be able to see this" performance. Very good start to the season.
No comments:
Post a Comment