Music

Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Miranda Heggie

Five Stars

Exploring the aural landscape of Russia??s history through the music of three major musical figures, all a generation apart, RSNO on Thursday evening gave a rousing performance of some of these composers?? most pivotal works.

Beginning with Prokofiev??s seldom performed Russian Overture, conductor Paul Daniel steered this vividly intricate mosaic of musical detail with methodic, although by no means rigid, precision, as the orchestra morphed seamlessly from one idea to the next, impeccably together as the players danced through various rhythmic and tonal worlds.

Moving on to Shostakovich??s Piano Concerto No 2, solo pianist Kirill Gernstein took to the keyboard with a profound sensitivity and exquisite tenderness. Having initially studied jazz piano at Boston??s Berklee College of Music, these influences from the earlier part of his career were made evident by his subtle reinforcement of ??blue?? notes in the first movement, and his fluid, malleable sense of rubato. The poignantly romantic second movement saw Gernstein play with a smooth, rich yet subdued tone, while the strings quivered underneath.

Rachmaninov??s lustrous and extravagant Second Symphony saw the orchestra display their true splendour as a musical force to be reckoned with. The piece begins with a dark and intriguing undercurrent, as though an illicit mystery was shrouded in the music. The third Adagio movement saw principal clarinettist Guy Spielman play Rachmaninov??s enchanting clarinet solo with an astonishingly crystal clear tone, soaring high against a backdrop of soft, shimmering string playing. Under Daniel??s precise direction, the orchestra was continually bringing new levels of intensity and fresh waves of passion to Rachmaninov??s animated score.