Shadow & Light

In the first of three programs presented by the UK violinist Anthony Marwood  together with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra the capacity audience was treated to two superb compositions.

The overarching theme of the Concert was Shadow & Light, the Shadow being the Dmitri Shostakovich String Quartet no 2 in A major  (Version for String Orchestra) and the Light being the ethereal The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

 In a string quartet here is a awareness and shared purpose between four players which is not easily transferred to a larger group of musicians. Because of the strength of the themes and the feeling behind the work, the Quartet no 2 by Shostakovich proved to be one that had much to offer with a larger group of players.

The original string quartet was composed in 1944, a time of upheaval in Europe and the String Orchestra arrangement played by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra string section succeeded in recreating a sense of that emotional turmoil and tension. 

The First Movement titled Overture begins strongly, even aggressively, and the tension is held throughout. This is followed by the Recitative and Romance where the opening solo, sombre and haunting, played by Anthony Marwood leads to the third movement, Waltz, which was spirited rather than light hearted, through the various key changes. The final movement  Theme with Variations begins with a viola solo then moves through the variations to bring the piece to a strong conclusion reminiscent of the opening movement.

That was Shadow, then there was Light. 

Ralph Vaughan William’s The Lark Ascending depicts in music the flight of a skylark, which emerges from its nest among the grasses, to ascend rapidly skywards where it can soar above the countryside. For this number the strings of the ASO were joined by other members of the orchestra. It begins with woodwind and muted strings, then the violin  enters with a cadenza, pianissimo, soaring as did the lark, to the heights. Anthony Marwood gave a virtuosic performance, capturing the lark’s tranquillity, freedom, and exuberance. The last notes, impossibly high and soft floated to the back reaches of Elder Hall and the audience erupted in loud, prolonged and appreciative applause.

There are two more concert in this series, on 3 and 4 March 12.30 Elder Hall, but i suspect they are already sold out.