Evening of excitement and beauty (From Bournemouth Echo)

Evening of excitement and beauty

12:32pm Friday 13th November 2009 in

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SIMONE Lamsma took what might seem a bold step in presenting Shostakovich’s pithy Violin Concerto No 1 as her debut with the BSO. However the long-breathed, sombre Nocturne won enormous respect for her confident, intellectual sobriety.

The Scherzo’s slashing strokes glinted against the wind ensembles mellifluous playing, the composers DSCH monogram adding to the rhythmic energy.

Lamsma’s intensely poignant Passacaglia against both tuba and pizzicato strings plus a slow cadenza that evoked, so appropriately on Wednesday, the lone trumpet of silent battlefields was emotionally awesome. The finale displayed a brilliance in which the barbs of warfare were delivered with electrifying virtuosity.

Her encore, the Andante from Bach’s Sonata No 2, reflected intensity similar to the Shostakovich Nocturne.

Yan Pascal Tortelier’s unstinting support carried over into an inspired performance of Dvorak’s Symphony No 9. Here the quiet introduction fell to a forcefully announced Allegro that took dynamic thrust as far as artistic licence would allow. The contrasting interludes were drawn with utmost beauty of tone from every player.

Rebecca Korzam’s cor anglais touched the senses and the soft-spoken strings and delicate sonorities were entrancing.

The Scherzo’s cross-rhythms were played to maximum effect and the finale’s metronomic stability lent an impressive precision to this most characterful and stimulating account.