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The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
BBCSO/Lintu review – there's a good reason these Boulez and Mahler works aren't often performed
In an age of hand-wringing over supposedly populist programming on BBC Radio 3 and in a Proms season packed with obvious crowd-pleasers, this BBC Symphony Orchestra concert seemed designed for the diehards. On the one hand: the Mahlerians, drawn by the rare opportunity to hear the composer's long, early cantata Das klagende Lied, a 'concert folk tale' based on a text he penned aged 17, in the original version he completed at 20. On the other: the Boulezians – better catered for than usual in his centenary year – who thronged for his Rituel in Memoriam Bruno Maderna, performed by the same orchestra who premiered it, with Boulez conducting, in 1975. The fact that Boulez also conducted the first Proms performance of Mahler's Das klagende Lied (again with the BBCSO) in 1976 presumably encouraged this Prom's pairing of works. But the juxtaposition did these pieces few favours. In the first half, a slimmed-down BBCSO revelled in Boulez's analogue spatial audio effects. Rattles were exchanged on snare drums, cymbals and güiros, like enormous snakes facing off across the Royal Albert Hall. There were flurries of chirruping woodwind and abrupt, abrasive cadences, snatched into silence by conductor Hannu Lintu, who stood almost motionless except for swift, absolutely economical gestures. Gongs and tam-tams hung on a vast rack were played by two percussionists, two beaters each, their slow dance amid so much metalwork strangely compelling. But the work's fragmentary nature and peculiar form made for a long half hour. Mahler's cantata felt longer still. His score offers glimpses of the mature composer to come: surges of symphonic power, natty rhythmic corners, beautiful chiaroscuro effects. But there are also numerous less persuasive turns of phrase. His teenaged pseudo-folk tale meanders repetitively and his text-setting poses real challenges for the solo singers. The adults – Natalya Romaniw, Jennifer Johnston, Russell Thomas and James Newby – fared better here than the two heftily miked boy choristers, but there were nevertheless balance problems throughout. The BBC Symphony Chorus and Constanza Chorus injected warmth and vigour and much of the orchestral playing was a deluxe, Mahler-in-HD affair. But not even that, alas, could save the piece from itself. Listen again on BBC Sounds until 12 October. The Proms continue until 13 September
Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
SSO's new season celebrates Singapore talents; Joe Hisaishi and Yo-yo Ma among star line-up
The upcoming 2025/2026 season will be Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf's last stint with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO SINGAPORE – The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is increasing ticket inventory by 20 per cent for its 2025/2026 season, buoyed by a 90 per cent house capacity for its ongoing season. This means about 12,000 more tickets for music fans. Mr Kenneth Kwok, chief executive of the Singapore Symphony Group, said of the bold move at a media launch for the orchestra's new season at Raffles Hotel on April 29 : 'We feel like now is the time. It's SG60 year and we have a lot of programmes that will hopefully excite audiences.' Home-grown talent features prominently in the orchestra's upcoming season, especially for the SSO National Day Concert on Aug 16. The concert will premiere new works by Izharul Haq and Chok Kerong, and there is also a guest appearance by popular singer Charlie Lim. The orchestra has commissioned new works by Singapore composers Joyce Koh and Wang Chenwei for the coming season. Fans of violinist Chloe Chua can look forward to her performing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in August. Pianist Churen Li will play composer Jonathan Shin's Piano Concerto in December under the baton of Hans Graf. Conductor Wong Kah Chun returns in April 2026 for his orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition and the premiere of Wang's work in May. The SSO will also be collaborating with Chinese music group Ding Yi Music Company and the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Big blockbuster crowd-pleasers are also on the cards. Composer Joe Hisaishi premieres his suite from animated film The Boy And The Heron (2023) in July, while cellist Yo-yo Ma will perform Dvorak's Cello Concert in September. Other marquee names include conductor Mikhail Pletnev. It looks like a banner year for the orchestra as it is bidding farewell to three key personnel for whom the new season will be their last: Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf, associate conductor Rodolfo Barraez and director of artistic planning Hans Sorensen. Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu will be taking over from Graf and Singaporean Christopher Cheong takes over from Sorensen. Graf, who joined the SSO as chief conductor in 2020/2021, said in a statement: 'I feel, without sadness, that I have given to this happy collaboration as much input as possible, and that my efforts were generously rewarded by mutual respect, confidence, warmth and the success of our common work over all the years, in rehearsal and concert. 'I am proud to see that the orchestra is in excellent artistic shape, ready and capable of reaching further heights of performance and success. It gives me pleasure and peace of mind to know the SSO's future is in the best hands: Hannu Lintu, with his fresh impact and ideas, will lead the orchestra to new levels of recognition, internationally and at home in Singapore.' Barraez, who said he will miss 'everything' when it is time to leave Singapore, added that he is proud of how the orchestra has developed since he joined in 2022: 'For me, every concert is important, whether it is outreach, open air or children's concerts. That was the special thing we achieved for the orchestra, we played at the highest level for all our performances.' Venezuelan orchestra conductor Rodolfo Barraez will be leaving the SSO after the 2025/2026 season. PHOTO: PEDRO SIERRA Sorensen, who joined SSO in 2019, described the SSO affectionately: 'It has this old-school Russian sound like the Vienna Philharmonic with very warm strings.' The proudest achievement of his stint: 'All the records we have done. Every season, we have done two or three and we have recorded about 11 albums with more in the works.' Hans Sorensen, director of artistic planning at Singapore Symphony Orchestra, is most proud of the multiple recordings he has helped the orchestra make during his stint. PHOTO: ST FILE One of these recordings – of film composer Bernard Herrmann's Suite From Wuthering Heights: Echoes For Strings – debuted at No. 5 the United Kingdom's classical music chart in 2024. He is also pleased with how he has helped broaden programming over the years, emphasising that the orchestra plays not just classical but symphonic music. 'We don't put music in boxes. We have contemporary music in our subscription concerts.' One upcoming concert he is particularly excited about teams Japanese classical music stars conductor Masaaki Suzuki and violinist Sayaka Shoji with lesser-known Bohemian composer Jan Kalliwoda (1801-1866). The judicious mix of academically rigorous choices with mass appeal programmes will be the SSO's hallmark. Mr Kwok highlighted a new programme under the SSO Pops banner – A Musical Box Of Chocolates in March 2026, which comprises an hour-long sampler programme for music newbies. He added: 'We are encouraging Singaporeans to use the new Culture Pass to try our concerts if they have been hesitant to, for whatever reason previously, so we want to make sure we have very accessible programmes.' For more information about the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's 2025/2026 season, go to Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
