Liszt came a unstuck over matters of form in his two piano concertos, although the second in A major works best in its transformation of unfolding themes. The work had an ideal advocate in Barry Douglas, whose delivery mixed truly virtuosic playing and moments of high drama with contrasting tenderness. He lingered soothingly over the unfolding lyricism of the opening Adagio, stirring almost reluctantly into the agitated, martial central section of the score. The whole performance was characterised by an intimate connection between soloist, conductor and orchestra. Principal cellist Tim Hugh put in an intense solo, although the vibrato was a little overdone. Lovely interjections, too, from horn, woodwind and double bass players.
Excited by these two works, listeners expected great things from Roths take on Berliozs ultra-Romantic Symphonie Fantastique. In the end, though, the performance didnt quite live up to expectations. Roth gave a fairly straight reading of the emotionally charged first movement, which made the faster-than-usual ball scene come as a bit of a shock. But once the ears had become accustomed to it, the accelerated tempo made perfect sense. The incessant drive forward well represented the artists excitement and frustration in seeking out his beloved. It also reinforced Berliozs deliberate undermining of the respectable waltz. The third movement (Scene in the Country) was exquisitely played as an extended pastoral symphonic poem in the manner of Beethoven. But the March to the Scaffold was simply too fast although the clarinet managed to put in a nicely pained ide fixe just before the final guillotine drop. The concluding Witches Sabbath veered between some wickedly off-kilter playing and rather bland passages. The concluding coda was rushed through and sounded hasty rather than fantastic.
Further details of Barbican concerts can be found at barbican.org.uk
