The absolute stars of this Melbourne Symphony Orchestra concert, featuring music from Mozart, Beethoven and more, were the most animated conductor I’ve ever seen, and a big beautiful shiny horn.
This night was billed as a whirlwind voyage through the history of Western music, and though you could argue endlessly about which composers and selections would fit this claim, it was a very enjoyable and varied outing with the ever-fantastic MSO. Speaking of variety, while most of the audience tended older as it usually does at classical concerts, we ended up sitting next to three children all under the age of ten, who turned out to be amazingly well-behaved and quiet as mice. It didn’t look like their first classical concert either, so well done parents for getting them while they’re young.
After a Bach appetiser, Sinfonia in D major, we got Symphony No. 49 from Haydn, popularly known as La Passione. I confess that Haydn and his music somehow passed me by. Bizarrely, my only familiarity was with his fictionalised version in George Sand’s novel Consuelo, where he appears as a young struggling composer and has a nice platonic friendship with the main heroine. I had no trouble getting into La Passione, however, especially its two quick movements, full of energy and yes, passion.
Our seats were nearly at the very back of the stalls section, but it became obvious early on that the conductor on the night wasn’t your average conductor. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone conduct the orchestra with their entire body quite like this, with that much physicality and dynamism; it looked like one serious workout. He was simply a joy to watch and I hope it’s not the first and last time I get to see him live.
The only thing that managed to upstage even this force of nature was the glorious gleaming horn, brought out for a star turn during Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 2. If I was asked to name my favourite sections of a symphonic orchestra, my mind probably wouldn’t go to brass, and I’ve actually never heard a horn concerto before. I did absolutely love this piece, partly because anything by Mozart lifts my soul and makes me feel better about life, universe and everything. As a bonus, the horn player performed a brief, mournful solo that made me think of things like the ANZAC Dawn Service, and how well the brass instruments suit them.
I’ve never heard of Matthew Locke, an English Baroque composer, who set to music a play based on Shakespeare’s famous The Tempest. This dramatic 17th-century piece opened the second half of the concert, followed by Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2. Whenever I listen to Mozart, I’m dead convinced that he’s my favourite composer, but the unsurpassed depth and emotional complexity of Beethoven always makes me less sure. It was a truly wonderful finish to the night.
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