Classical review: BBC SSO

Published on Friday 28 November 2008 19:59

BBC SSO CITY HALLS, GLASGOW

THE BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's Russian Winter series – of which this was the second concert – is proving massively popular, and so it should. This central combination of two Russian giants, Rachmaninov and Stravinsky, puts together two streams of that great country's tradition in a way that highlights their similarities as much as their differences.

On Thursday, Stefan Solyom opened a fascinating programme with Rachmaninov's sombre yet exhilarating tone poem The Isle of the Dead. In a performance that was careful not to stall, he lost none of its magical stillness. Right from its infectious opening theme – a lugubriously lilting tune – the SSO responded with immaculate refinement and sumptuous warmth. Alexander Melnikov's presence in the famous Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini had the potential to be lustrous and beautifully detailed, imbued as it was with effortless fluidity. But his performance was let down by brief moments of forgetfulness.

Stravinsky emerged first in small scale, through the neat motorised neo-classicism of Dumbarton Oaks. The small ensemble harnessed its brittle energy with just the right degree of emotional detachment.

A little less detachment in the final moments of The Firebird might have sent us out into the night with a greater level of fulfilment. To that point, Solyom had painted its vivid scenes with clean-cut, but deep-scented, mastery.

To inject such understatement into the final apotheosis was slightly misjudged and a little disappointing. But a great series is emerging nonetheless.