This was a lively and passionate performance put in by everyone involved, making for a vibrant evening.
Whenever I listen to classical music, I always feel that it takes you on a journey and stories come to mind as you sit back and just simply listen to the different textures and tones to each piece being performed. Attending my very first BBC Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall, I felt this even more.
With a programme comprised of Grażyna Bacewicz’s Overture, Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major and excerpts from Sergey Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, there is certainly a sense of theatricality in all of the pieces selected that compliment each other beautifully.
Performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales along with Principal Guest Conductor Jaime Martín, the evening got off to an elegant and playful start with Grażyna Bacewicz’s Overture. Written during 1943, it is filled with conflicting emotions that captures the uncertainty of what was happening in the world. At just six minutes long it is impressive in just how much it packs in. The performance by the orchestra and Martín really packs a punch and made me want to seek out her other compositions, having not heard of her before.
This was then neatly followed up by a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, with the orchestra being joined by solo violinist Nemanja Radulović who offers up an incredibly enthusiastic and energetic performance. He performs with such flair it is hard not to smile and be swept away by it all, matched perfectly Jaime Martín’s equal joy in performing the piece. At 33 minutes long, the time seemed to fly by and it was a shame when the piece finished, although it was appreciated that Radulović came back on for deserved encore. During this piece, there was so many lovely little moments – including the way in which Radulović would step back and simply appreciate what his colleagues were doing – you could tell he was lost in the music and the performances.
However, there was still plenty of treats to come, thanks to the selection of extracts from Sergey Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet that is filled with as much drama and theatricality as you would expect – a tone set by the instantly recognisable Montagues and Capulets (as some will recognise from BBC’s The Apprentice). Each excerpt has clearly been cleverly selected and you still get a sense of the key elements of the story being told through music it was a truly enriching experience to hear it being performed live.
Expertly and joyously conducted by Jaime Martín, the BBC Concert Orchestra were on top form – everything sounding in perfect harmony and there was a gorgeously rich and deep sound throughout that enhanced each piece beautifully.
Overall, this was an evening that was filled with plenty of treats and left me with a deeper appreciation for classical music.
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐