Celtic Connections review: Carlos Nunez And The RSNO - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

By SUE WILSON
Published on 21/01/2013 00:00

AS CELTIC Connections’ favourite Galician piper Carlos Núñez gratefully observed, it was a minor miracle that this show happened at all. Flying in with his band from Madrid via Heathrow, their journey coincided with the worst of the weekend’s snow.

Carlos Nunez And The RSNO

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

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That they made it was testament equally to the above-and-beyond endeavours of festival sponsors ScotRail, and the musicians’ willingness to abandon their luggage at the airport – including most of their instruments – in order to catch the necessary northbound train.

Three nights into Celtic Connections 2013, and this was already the second performance involving a major orchestral contribution, after the 20-piece string section that featured in Thursday’s opening concert.

What has been striking on both occasions is the depth of genuine, mutually appreciative integration on display between the folk and classical realms, with many of the arrangements here – in a programme Núñez has performed with various international orchestras over the last decade – exhibiting vibrantly imaginative and beautifully executed responses to his traditionally-based material.

With Núñez switching nimbly between gaita, whistles and recorders, contrasting highlights included a marvellously lush, exultant version of Shaun Davey’s Pilgrim’s Sunrise, the short but action-packed Spanish Dragon, written for a Celtic-themed Japanese anime movie, and a thrillingly intense pipes-led excerpt from Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, plus a couple of fiery barnstormers featuring five guest Scottish pipers.

A few of the slower numbers were rather more clichéd in style – think sweeping romantic soundtracks – but still winningly awash with supremely classy musicianship.