Almost like Duke Ellington

Review by John Sherlock
25 March 2017
The Capitol, Horsham

Conductor: Steve Dummer / Soloist: Mandhira de Saram / Leader: Barry Sutton 

Schubert arr. Webern: Six German Dances
Berg: Violin Concerto
Brahms arr. Schoenberg: Piano Quartet in G minor Op. 25 

On previous occasions, HSO has captivated us with romantic music. They have also demonstrated how disciplined they can be. This time they showed us intellect.

The Berg Violin Concerto was always going to be risky – the auditorium wasn’t full and some folk just don’t ‘get’ serial music. It was nevertheless stunning. 

Mandhira de Saram captivated everyone with a lyrical and accomplished performance. The orchestra responded sensitively: at the close, there was magic in the air.

Steve Dummer turned tribulation to advantage. Having been struck with frozen shoulder, he made the decision to abandon the Webern arrangement of Schubert’s German Dances, and this gave him the opportunity to offer a comprehensive introduction to the Berg concerto, during which the orchestra demonstrated various themes and even sung the much-quoted Bach chorale. Steve’s most memorable phrase: “almost like Duke Ellington”. 

The original programme had been cleverly assembled to feature work by the three chief advocates of the ‘Second Viennese School’ – Webern, Berg, and Schoenberg. The second half of the concert was given over to the last of these titans: his orchestral arrangement of a Brahms quartet. 

Purists might have wondered why Schoenberg bothered. Indeed (as the excellent programme notes told us) the orchestration was not altogether Brahms-like, except in the Andante. But it was a splendid choice for orchestra and audience alike – ending with a flourish which drew well-deserved applause. 

Should a local orchestra attempt the unusual sometimes? My answer has to be a resounding ‘yes’. Even if serial music is not so popular, it is powerful and magical. And how privileged we are to have the skilled HSO perform it for us!