The final concert in the SCO’s current season was indeed uplifting.
All the pieces were upbeat, youthful works. The personality of the guest piano/conductor Robert Levin mirrored the choice of music with his energetic style, making most of the humorous possibilities of the three pieces.
The first piece on the programme was composed by Anton Reicha, a contemporary and friend of Beethoven. Reicha was very fond of musical tricks and puzzles and his Overture in D major – in classical form – had a highly unusual rhythm for the period being. It was in 5/4 but the musicians accomplished this rhythm with great aplomb.
Mozart Piano concert No 16 in D major was next on the agenda. Levin had unusually arranged to have the piano situated facing the audience which he obviously felt was a better position to be in when playing and conducting simultaneously.
As Levin explained before he began, although Mozart wrote cadenzas for the concerto he was going to play his own, improvised version of the cadenzas and also he was going to be improvising various notes throughout. An extremely accomplished pianist, he was thoroughly enjoying himself laughing and smiling throughout – it was indeed uplifting.
The final composition on the programme was the infrequently performed Symphony No 2 in B-flat major by Schubert, written when he was only eighteen years old. It is a youthful work but already Schubert’s style was apparent and the orchestra set off at a cracking pace with a precise, crisp sound, emphasising how accomplished the musicians are in creating a symphonic sound. And their ability to effortlessly juxtapose the dynamic tones permeating the movements was marvellous and provided a suitable, elevating end to this concert season.
9 May 2013, The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh and 10 May, Glasgow City Halls