Nova Foresta Philharmonic Orchestra gala concert at St Thomas Church
THE star performer of this gala concert was the piano! A Steinway Model D, newly acquired and gleaming, centre stage.
To play it, Peter Roper-Curzon, supported by conductor Phil Daish-Handy and the Nova Foresta Philharmonic Orchestra, leader Catherine Lawlor. What an appropriate choice of music to show off this magnificent instrument for the first time, Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. No orchestra for the first eight bars – just the piano!
We waited. Roper-Curzon settled and then his fingers sank deeply into the keys producing that first atmospheric, hushed chord. Gradually, the bars that followed grew to a crescendo of glorious sound. The Piano had announced its arrival! For the next thirty minutes, the Steinway reigned supreme, sometimes majestic, frequently tender and occasionally almost hypnotic.
In the second movement, Roper-Curzon pulled us into his world of tenderness, simplicity and longing, before launching into the showy cadenza leading to one of the most famous melodies ever composed. At times, there were some truly beautiful moments between the piano and orchestra, and Daish-Handy did well to maintain overall timing discipline in a composition where the speed of a soloist’s playing can vary within a few bars, as dictated by the composer.
Roper-Curzon’s execution was relaxed and secure and ensured a standing ovation from a delighted audience.
The programme opened with Wagner’s Prelude from Tristan and Isolde. Daish-Handy’s handling of this revolutionary and challenging piece deserves recognition. This is music that is passionate, full of longing and tension, created through numerous key changes, occasional silences and seemingly never-ending cadences. The conductor merged these elements together, skilfully bringing the piece to its magnificent, final climax, before settling us down, seamlessly, into a silence, for the last time.
Following the Wagner, we heard “ Winter” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. To offer a greater insight to the work, leader Catherine Lawlor firstly explained Vivaldi’s narrative before rendering a performance that was dramatic, edgy and energetic, ably supported by the strings. The packed audience left well-satisfied, many taking a closer look at the star performer of the evening – the Steinway!
Craig McEwan
