Master Series One. Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 21 March 2014
There were many standouts tonight, but guest conductor Jahjah Ling stood tallest. The work of the maestro begins long before the performance, and long before the first rehearsal, and Ling has clearly done his homework on Dvořák. Ling has an affinity for Dvořák’s uber melodic and lyrical Symphony in G (No. 8), which concluded the concert. He demanded the ASO play it at close to full bore, but he balanced this with a masterful control of dynamics: the ‘louds’ were imposing and they fell away exquisitely to the softest of ‘softs’, and the occasional silences demanded by the score were rendered ever so poignant. Not afraid to extract as much emotion as possible, Ling was precise, warm and in control, and the audience was instantly thunderous in its appreciation at the final note.
The concert began with a robust performance of Richard Strauss’ symphonic poem ‘Don Juan’. It is a gutsy composition and, if one cares, it is programmatic work that gives a musical account of the lusty exploits of the sexual adventurer by the same name. Knowing this however is irrelevant to the enjoyment of the music. As with the Dvořák, Ling played the Strauss with measured intensity, and the woodwinds and principal were allowed to elegantly feature with crystal clarity when needed without being overwhelmed by body of the orchestra.
A mark of a skilful conductor is how they work with soloists in concertos, and Ling demonstrated and empathetic and almost ‘knowing’ relationship with Russian-born German violinist Alina Pogostkina as they performed Mendelssohn’s ever-popular and very difficult Violin Concerto in E minor; at only thirty years of age, and she looks younger, Alina Pogostkina already has an exceptional talent and clearly merits being entrusted with a Stradivarius. Her demonstration of ‘ricochet’ bowing in the third movement was impressive, to say nothing of her pizzicato with the left hand whilst bowing with the right during her encore. From the almost immediate entry of the solo violin in the first movement with one of the most recognisable themes in the repertoire, Pogostkina and Ling worked with each other to demonstrate that the work is much more than a solo violin with orchestral accompaniment. Ling safeguarded its moments of intimacy and utter lucidity, and they regularly ‘checked in’ with each other with knowing looks and supportive smiles.
At the final bow Pogostkina was presented with stunning red flowers from Tynte Flowers that contrasted beautifully with her stunning pale mauve gown. She looked triumphant and Ling and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra were entirely deserving of the applause.
Kym Clayton
When: Closed
Where: Adelaide Town Hall
Bookings: Closed
