On this occasion, in an all Vaughan Williams programme, they were performing symphonies 3 and 4 in advance of recording sessions for the next album.
Whilst the city was holding widespread 75th anniversary
commemorations of the May Blitz this week, the Phil’s programme serendipitously
felt perfectly aligned to these events. Beginning with the quintessentially
English pastoralness of the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, the first
half moved on to the anger and brutality of the 4th symphony, widely considered
to be Vaughan Williams’ response to the mounting tensions that presaged World
War II.
The second part of the concert returned to gentler mood
beginning with mezzo soprano Jennifer Johnston in the short but beautifully
formed Linden Lea. This was followed by the 3rd, Pastoral Symphony, a work of
serene reconciliation, opening and closing in splendid stillness around its
central folk-dance scherzo. As the originally engaged tenor was indisposed, a
late decision was taken to use the suggested alternative to the wordless
cantilena, beautifully articulated by principal clarinet Benjamin Mellefont.
Vaughan Williams is repertoire that the Liverpool Phil have
long associations with and it runs in their blood. It’s well over 20 years
since their acclaimed recorded cycle with Vernon Handley and in Andrew Manze
they have once again found an intelligent interpreter who really understands
this music. The playing was immaculately articulated and imbued with tremendous
warmth, and it is clear that orchestra and conductor really enjoy working
together.
As
the current concert season nears its end we await the announcement of the
2016/17 programme, and this week’s audience will surely be hoping for more of
the same from Andrew Manze. Meanwhile, he returns this coming Thursday and
Friday to conduct a programme of Rossini, Mozart and Mendelssohn.
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| Andrew Manze - Image (c) Chris Christodoulou |
This review
was originally written for Good News Liverpool
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