It was a perfectly normal concert for the first five minutes - under the baton of Christian Kluxen, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s Assistant Conductor. But then on to the stage bounced Paul Rissmann, the presenter. The music stopped and he gave us an insight into Jean Sibelius from Finland, composer of the night’s work - his Symphony Number 5. Originally written in 1915 he twice revised it until by 1919 he was satisfied. With these revisions four movements were reduced to three.
Taking each of the three movements at a time, Paul Rissmann had the Orchestra play a small section, then stopped and discussed. At other points the excellent projection on the giant screen behind the players showed the score and with the aid of sophisticated graphics took us along, several bars at a time, to get into the mind of the composer. A discussion with Christian Kluxen, from Denmark, gave us an understanding why some of Sibelius’ movements come to an abrupt end - it’s part of the Finnish way, he told us.
At the back and high up with Martin Gibson, the Principal Tympanist, we were shown how, unusually, the tympani plays the theme without accompanying trumpets in some pretty nifty drum stick maneuvers. At another point Rosina Alter was at the front of the stage with her basoon in discussion with Paul Rissmann.
After the interval the Orchestra played the entire Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony - music with which by then we were all expert. Paul Rissmann’s presentations get better and better. This exposition was clearly very much appreciated by the audience.
Event: Friday 18 November 2011 7.30pm