Concert review: Hebrides Ensemble/Claron McFadden

Published on Tuesday 8 March 2011 19:28

HEBRIDES ENSEMBLE / CLARON MCFADDEN ST ANDREWS IN THE SQUARE, GLASGOW *****

HARRISON Birtwistle's Pulse Shadows is subtitled "Meditations on Paul Celan for Soprano, String Quartet and Ensemble". In his poetry, Celan stubbornly examined and re-examined events in Second World War Germany. Birtwistle's settings of the poems for soprano are intense, but they form only half of the story. Pulse Shadows also features nine distinct movements for string quartet.

In his settings of Celan's verses, just as within his Friezes and Fantasias however, Birtwistle consistently draws inspiration from early viol music. Presumably, it was this stylistic link, together with the composer's relaxed approach to the order in which Pulse Shadows is to be performed, which encouraged director William Conway to intersperse Britwistle's music with various of the Purcell Fantasias.

Though it didn't always make for a seamless transition – particularly during the second half, as Birtwistle commanded more of the audience's attention – the ambitious programme was as exhaustingly absorbing as any there has been, or is likely to be, for a very long time.

Each instrumentalist could merit review, such was the dedication of the entire ensemble. Nevertheless, it was soprano Claron McFadden who really raised the performance from merely great to really remarkable.

McFadden has lived with Pulse Shadows for years and it showed in the ease and authority with which she led proceedings. I cannot be the only one in the audience who has already checked her tour diary in the eager hope of catching a repeat performance later this week.