In a spellbinding concert at Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, led by their dynamic chief conductor Ryan Bancroft, delivered a mesmerizing programme that seamlessly blended the works of contemporary composer Anders Hillborg with the timeless classics of Sibelius and Shostakovich.
The evening’s centrepiece was Hillborg’s “Exquisite Corpse,” a composition inspired by the surrealist artistic technique of the same name. Bancroft and the orchestra navigated the work’s intricate layers of sound with remarkable precision, bringing to life Hillborg’s rich tapestry of instrumental colours – from delicate harmonies to thunderous bass registers and insistent conga rhythms. The unfolding musical landscape captivated the audience, leaving an indelible impression.
The concert also featured Sibelius’ Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22, a haunting and blackly surreal work based on episodes from the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic. Under Bancroft’s baton, the orchestra delivered a nuanced and evocative performance, seamlessly blending the narrative drama with the elemental, intoxicating qualities of Sibelius’ score. Particularly noteworthy was the exquisite cor anglais solo by Amy McKean.
Sandwiched between these two works was Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 2, Op. 126, with the acclaimed German cellist Alban Gerhardt as the soloist. Gerhardt’s impeccable technique and sensitive interpretation highlighted the concerto’s melancholic beauty, with the writing on the A-string delivered with mesmerizing precision. In the Allegretto movement, Gerhardt captured the composer’s bleak, sardonic rhythmic bite with razor-sharp accuracy.
The concert concluded with a heartwarming moment as Gerhardt, the modest “cello hero,” joined the back of the cello section to play in the Sibelius suite, “just for the hell of it,” as the review noted.
This imaginatively programmed concert was a testament to the exceptional artistry of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and their charismatic chief conductor, Ryan Bancroft. The audience was left captivated by the intriguing connections, magic, and melancholy beauty that permeated the performance.