REVIEW: Vasko Vassilev opens Brighton Philharmonic concert season
VIOLINIST Vasko Vassilev opened the Brighton Philharmonic concert season by dazzling a near-capacity Dome audience.
A former star prodigy at eight, Vassilev showed both maturity and controlled fireworks in Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D and the same could be said of the wonderfully on-form orchestra throughout the afternoon on Sunday, October 4.
There was a touch of gypsy fireside heat in the allegro moderato, but this turned out to be a mere warm-up to some violin pyrotechnics in the finale in which Vassilev combined both passion and precision to give a new dimension to the composer's Allegro Vivacissimo.
Some say this concerto lacks the emotion of some of the composer's works, but there was enough feeling pouring through the lightning finger-work of Vassilev to captivate the crowd.
In between the first and last movements Vassilev showed mellow reflection in the andante, and after prolonged applause at the end of the symphony played a romantic encore.
It was a little like the 70s prog-rocker following up a blistering solo by saying: "I can do slow, too!" And how.
The orchestra gave notice in the beautifully played opening Prince Igor overture that it was ready for the new season, with musical director Barry Wordsworth powering it forward with the same enthusiasm of two decades ago, helped by some excellent brass and woodwind.
In the immaculately performed Rachmaninov Symphony Number 2 the orchestra reminded us that this work is not all sweet lush strings, bringing out the dramatic and doomy moments with wonderful timing and some bold brass fanfares.
The concert was dedicated to Jackie Godfrey, described by Mr Wordsworth as a "true friend of the Philharmonic." Every single musician did Jackie proud and set a high standard for the coming months.
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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