Classical review: Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Published on Sunday 25 April 2010 19:36

SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CITY HALLS, GLASGOW * * * *

HOW does the surrounding musical landscape of a work affect its impact on an audience? In the case of Ligeti's shockwave 1980s Piano Concerto, set centrally in this daring SCO programme between the inoffensive lilt of Dvorak's Legends (five of the Op59 collection) and the comforting climactic imagery of Beethoven's Pastoral symphony, such juxtaposition make all the difference.

It was surely a deliberate ploy by the orchestra's smart new chief conductor Robin Ticciati to wreak havoc with the sensibilities of the largely conservative SCO faithful.

Soloist Tom Poster was a willing conspirator. His cut-glass performance emphasised the super-sensitised intensity of Ligeti's nerve-jangling score, which was matched by Ticciati's energised direction of the cut-down (though percussion-enhanced) orchestra. This is music that makes the hair stand up, which this performance achieved with uncompromising welter.

Against that, Beethoven's rustic symphonic portrait seemed like a walk in the park, which was exactly what was needed. Ticciati negotiated the various scenes with an easeful air, creating a narrative flow that was both colourful and convincing.

That same combination of affirmation and relaxation informed the young conductor's fluid interpretations of the five Legends, all of which are delicious examples of their kind, full of lyrical warmth and rhythmic bounce.

Ticciati promised he would create programmes that would make us sit up and take note. This was definitely one of them.