Canberra Sinfonia
Cello/Guest Director
Chris Pidcock
Wesley Uniting
Church, Forrest 31 August
Reviewed by Len Power
Canberra Sinfonia’s latest concert gave us four very
interesting works. Three of them
required a cello soloist and the fourth work, a symphony, was by the composer, Antonio
Rosetti, who is apparently not often programmed in modern concerts.
Canberra cellist, Chris Pidcock, not only played the
featured cello parts but also directed the orchestra as well – not an
easy feat when as a cello soloist you need to be seated and facing the audience
when playing.
The first work presented, Haydn’s popular Cello Concerto No.
1 in C major, was played with great energy and clarity by both orchestra and
soloist. Pidcock is a very physical
player, unselfconsciously showing the effect the music has on him as he
plays. That feeling easily transfers to
us in the audience, adding another pleasant dimension to the concert. By a happy chance, the sunlight through the
church window was a perfectly placed spotlight on the performer.
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| Chris Pidcock and the Canberra Sinfonia (photo supplied by the company) |
The second work, by Antonio Rosetti, was a revelation. A prolific early Classical era composer, this was my first experience of his work. The second movement had a strangely abrupt ending but it was a colourful and dynamic work overall and was played very well by the orchestra. It left me wanting to hear more of this composer’s music.
Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme was the first
work played after interval. Based on an original
theme in Rococo style, Tchaikovsky wrote it with the help of Wilhelm
Fitzenhagen, a German cellist and fellow-professor of the Moscow
Conservatory. Fitzenhagen then made
changes to the order and some content to best highlight the soloist. The result is a lush, melodic work that was
played with sensitivity by Pidcock and the orchestra.
The final work presented, ‘Sollima Hell 1 from Songs From
the Divine Comedy’, was by contemporary Italian composer and cellist, Giovanni
Sollima. This quietly dramatic work was startling
in its emotional content as well as being wistfully beautiful. It was played superbly by Pidcock and the
orchestra, bringing this fine concert to a satisfying close.
As well as playing solo cello so well, Chris Pidcock did a
fine job as guest director of the orchestra.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast on the Artsound FM 92.7 ‘In the Foyer’ program on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.