Conducted by Leonard
Weiss
Soloist: Helena Popovic
Llewellyn Hall 24 September
Reviewed by Len Power
At the Llewellyn Hall, the Canberra Youth Orchestra, under
the expert baton of Leonard Weiss, presented an evening of popular works by Dvořák,
Tchaikovsky, Borodin and Sibelius. It
was a varied program showcasing these four very different composers.
Three of Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances were played first and the
orchestra was in fine form from the very first note, giving dynamic
performances of the first and seventh dances and, in between, playing the less
dramatic sixth dance with great feeling.
Next on the program was a performance of the second movement
of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, with soloist, Helena Popovic. This popular work is also considered to be
technically difficult to play but Popovic gave a beautiful performance bringing
out the emotion of the work with great skill.
There was also a fine balance between soloist and orchestra.
This was followed by Alexander Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances
From Prince Igor, a sensuous, atmospheric work with melodies that are now
well-known, having been used in the musical ‘Kismet’ in 1953. The orchestra gave a strong performance
bringing much light and shade to the work and playing the dramatic passages
especially well.
After interval, the orchestra played Sibelius’ Symphony No.
2. First performed in 1902, it was popularly
dubbed the "Symphony of Independence", as it was written at a time of
Russian sanctions on Finnish language and culture. The orchestra gave a particularly fine
performance of this marvellous work especially in the lively third movement
leading to the grand emotive final movement.
Conductor, Leonard Weiss, also announced an exciting program
for the orchestra in 2017 with guest artists including Idea Of North and James
Morrison.
This review was first published in the Canberra City News digital edition of 25 September 2016. Len Power's reviews can also be heard on Artsound FM 92.7's 'Artcetera' program on Saturdays from 9.00am.