The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra gave a truly thrilling concert on Saturday under the superb leadership of conductor Simone Young.
The opening work, Franz Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony in B minor, was a delectable appetizer ahead of the evening’s main course, Gustav Mahler’s enormous Symphony No 6 in A minor. Together, the two works showed the ASO at its very best and demonstrated Young’s tremendous range and versatility.
Young has something of a reputation as a perfectionist, demanding everything and then a little bit more from the musicians. “Disciplined” and “determined” are words you’ll often hear when Young’s name is mentioned. She embodies those qualities and expects the same in return. Clearly, the ASO responded positively to the challenge. It was obvious even in the most difficult passages that the players were fully in the moment and relishing the performance. Throughout the concert, Young displayed the perfect balance between precision and expression.
Conducting without the aid of a score, Young gave the Unfinished Symphony a vivid interpretation, highlighting every contrast and nuance of the piece, especially in the slower second movement. This is a beautiful, soulful work with wonderful touches, such as the unusual pairing of the oboes and clarinets.
After the interval, it was time for Mahler’s Sixth, a work of extraordinary scale and ambition. This is classical music writ big and busy. If they’d had Hollywood movies in 1903, this would have surely been the theme for an apocalyptic epic. The first movement, allegro energico, gives an invigorating, yet still ominous, opening. From there, it’s an exciting journey but you know it’s not going to be a happy ending.
For all its serious intent, there are delightful flourishes that would sound whimsical by most composers but here offer just a sprinkling of wit. One of the advantages of scoring a piece for such a big orchestra is the depth and variation that offers. Two harps, a celeste, a full percussion section, half a dozen brass, and a suite of woodwinds boosted the orchestra to full-stage capacity. The work is given a mountain-top touch with the inclusion of cow-bells, curiously played from up in the dress circle.
There are not too many pieces written with a massive mallet as part of the score, and Mahler variously offered this with one, two, or three hammer blows. Young included the full triple treat, much to the audience’s delight.
This really was an outstanding performance by Simone Young and the ASO; the enthusiastic standing ovation was entirely deserved.
Rating: 5 stars
Simone Young & Mahler – Great Classics 3
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Adelaide Festival Theatre
23 July 2016
