Beethoven and Sibelius presented by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Concert Hall, QPAC
1st and 2nd Oct, 2021
Soloist Grace Clifford, violin
Conductor Alexander Briger, OA
WAGNER Prelude to Act III, from Lohengrin
SIBELIUS Violin Concerto in D
BEETHOVEN Symphony No.7 in A
Dr Gemma Regan
Clifford’s intensity was mesmerising with a symbiotic synergy between Sibelius and the strings
A video launching the exciting Powered by Music 2022 QSO program had the audience chomping at the bit with 28 themed concerts and six studio sessions featuring favourites such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with a South American version by composer Astor Piazolla from Buenos Aires, Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto and Handel’s Messiah. The Cinematic concert in 2022 honours the Maestro of movie soundtracks, composer John Williams. In a special 90th birthday celebration featuring pieces from the most iconic films including Star Wars, Harry Potter and Indiana Jones. There will also be a Special Opera Gala featuring Australian Opera Singers such as Natalie Aroyan and a Fantasy and Folklore concert for the more magical at heart. It promises to be an incredible year full of exciting entertainment.
With the QPAC audience already invigorated by the launch, they were treated to an encore visit from Alexander Briger OA. After his inaugural concert earlier this year with Music to Soothe Your Soul, Briger was a popular choice. He is one of Australia’s most pre-eminent conductors and the recipient of the Order of Australia for his services to music specialising in Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, and Janáček, and the perfect choice for the concert.
The Queensland Symphony Orchestra sounded fabulous in the Prelude to Act III of “Lohengrin” with the crash of the cymbals and trumpeting brass fanfares. Lohengrin is one of the most famous works from Wagner’s operatic repertoire and made a dramatic introduction to the concert. The joyful prelude to Elsa’s Bridal Chorus is full of spirit with the optimism of romantic love bursting through the strings.
The romanticism continued with the Violin Concerto from Sibelius featuring Australia’s extraordinary young violinist Grace Clifford in her inaugural concert with the QSO. Clifford was awarded the Australian Young Performer of the Year at the tender age of 16 and is making her debut with Musica Viva this season. Her intensity was mesmerising throughout the concerto in her symbiotic synergy between Sibelius and the strings. Sibelius had cut and rewritten the ‘virtuosic fluff’ after criticism to create the 1905 masterpiece. From a soft downy bed of strings in the Allegro moderato to mournful cries in the Adagio di molto, Clifford moved the audience with her empathic erudition. The frivolous folk dance style of the final movement and technically difficult violin raced to a frenetic, fantastic finish causing foot stamping and whoops from the crowd.
Originally two contrabassoons were featured in Beethoven’s Symphony No.7. Beethoven aficionado, Conductor Alexander Briger re-introduced one to the concert with an excited Claire Ramuscak seated at the front of the stage with the double basses. It was an insightful addition to the piece acting like a super sub-woofer for the bass.
The symphony opened with the clarinet varying from crashing crescendos to lilting melodies. Tears and nods amongst the audience highlighted the powerful impression music can have on the psyche, with the hypnotically intense strings of Symphony No.7, one of Beethoven’s best-received works. The incredible Allegretto has been used to great effect in many movies, most recently when it accompanied the iconic speech by King George VI, performed by Colin Firth in The King’s Speech. The pace was slowly metered, majestic and magnificent. The guttural resonance of the double bass has always had a starring role, but with the additional contrabassoon it was astounding, sounding as Beethoven had first envisioned
Disappointingly Alexander Briger did not take the opportunity to talk to the audience or introduce the music, which was surprising after his juicy insights in his inaugural concert with the QSO. However, his entertaining animation during Beethoven’s Symphony No.7 more than compensated for his silence. His dramatic and vibrant conducting style without a score revealed his confidence and wealth of experience as a Worldwide recognised Maestro.
He bounced to the beat of the baton, prodding at the violins and postulating at the brass. The energised baton was used as a wand, directing a spell to each string in turn as they “bowed” to his will. In the fourth and final movement of the concert, Briger appeared to be winding up the QSO to a frenzy, whirling the baton as if cranking the starter of an old Ford. With a giant leap and a flamboyant sweep of the baton, it was an energetic end to a powerful and emotional concert from the QSO with many more to come!
You can relive the concert on ABC Classic as the Classic Live Concert on the 29th October at 12 pm (AEDT).