C
SurreyAdvertiser 28th May 2004 19
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Choir’s Russian delights
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GUILDFORD Philharmonic’s
concert in the cathedral on
Saturday, entitled A Russian
Spectacular was well named.
We were indeed treated to a
most spectacular evening
from all points of view.
Jeremy Backhouse, the
choir's
dynamic
musical
director since 1995, is to be
~
congratulated for his continuous bold, imaginative programme planning. In less
than a year the choir have
promoted the most stimulating repertoire, including the
colossal 8th Symphony of
Mabhler, and performed it to
an amazingly high standard.
This is due in no small part
to Mr Backhouse’s enthusiasm,
efficiency and, let it be added
bravery in tackling some of the
largest works ever conceived.
The concert opened with a
vigorous rendition of the
Polovstian
Dances
from
Prince Igor by Borodin. The
choir’s accompanist Jeremy
Filsell then gave a glorious
performance of the formidably
difficult
3rd
Piano
Concerto of Rachmaninov.
This was music making of the
highest order. We have come
to take Mr Filsell’s virtuosity
almost for granted but this
technical prowess was united
with playing of superb musicality and architecture. The
beautifully textured Iyrical
passages were delivered with
a
warmth
and
euphoria,
which was profoundly moving. In this he was aided and
abetted by his namesake con-
ductor who drew the most
ravishing sounds from the
excellent Forest Philharmonic
Orchestra ensemble, very difficult to achieve in this work,
was well nigh perfect. The
musical partnership between
conductor and soloist could
be compared without exaggeration to the classic recording by Ashkenazy and Previn.
The last pages brought the
concerto to a climax of electrifying exhilaration.
The second part of the programme was devoted to
Prokoviev’s cantata drawn
from his film score to the legendary Eisenstein’s Alexander
Nevsky. The choir sang this
music with total conviction
and an appropriately stark
sense of style. The decision to
sing the work in Russian paid
immense dividends. Choir
and orchestra alike seemed
to
overcome
the
cathedral’s
acoustical problems with
easy mastery.
Guildford Philharmonic isgoing through a most distinguished chapter in its history. |
One can hardly wait for the
next event — Elgar’s popular
Dream of Gerontius.
Contributed