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| Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra © BBC/Chris Christodoulou |
Sir Simon Rattle (conductor)
8pm, Friday 6 September 2024
Royal Albert Hall, London
★★★★★
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): Symphony No. 6 in A minor (1903-4, rev. 1906)
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| The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra percussionists © BBC/Chris Christodoulou |
'With short phrases thrown around the orchestra, detail can easily get lost, or lack connection. Yet Rattle (without score) led from one to the other, and just watching him alone delivered complete coherency'.
'... alone at the top of the staging was a large, beehive-like wooden box on legs. At the appointed moment, the percussionist rose from his seat below, solemnly walked up the steps, picked up the huge mallet, and then scared the living daylights out of the audience in the choir stalls behind, hitting the box with such force it jumped around on the stage. Thankfully it didn’t fall to bits, and no swarm of bees emerged'.
'In the Scherzo, Rattle contrasted the violent, twisted march with the pecking, petulant woodwind, but also brought out the laughing violas alongside the shrill E flat clarinet at the movement’s end'.
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| The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra woodwinds © BBC/Chris Christodoulou |
'From the dreamlike opening with weirdly twanging, muted harp effects and more offstage cowbells, to the galloping brass and trilling birdlike woodwinds, the BRSO demonstrated their unquestionable prowess and ability to produce stunning orchestral colour'.
'In the finale, Rattle and the BRSO excelled'.
Read my full review on Bachtrack here.
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| Sir Simon Rattle & the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra © Nick Boston |
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