Late passengers join the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s evocative French road trip

Having explored much French music already this season, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra have thought outside of the box in some creative and imaginative programming. In this concert from the countryside to the sea, from despair to elation, they explored two rarities paired with an ever-popular symphony. Working with several guest conductors, tonight’s concert was unexpectedly given by Geoffrey Paterson, a late replacement for John Wilson, who sadly has a broken arm.

Maurice Duruflé’s seldom heard orchestral suite Trois dances (1932) provided a delightful opening, handled confidently by Paterson. The beginning of Divertissement was delicate, like a ray of sunshine, giving way to a more lyrical episode. Paterson’s awareness of the textures and how to change mood and colours whilst maintaining balletic movement shone through. Danse lente, the central movement, had a sultry seductiveness reminiscent of Ravel’s Shéhérazade, with several powerful climaxes. Finally, Tambourin was played with great vigour. 

Hot on her heels from Peter Grimes rehearsals, Dame Sarah Connolly was another late replacement, standing in for an indisposed Alice Coote in Chausson’s Poème de l’amour et de la mer (1893). Paterson created a sophisticated orchestral sound in La Fleur des eaux. Connolly delivered the first verse with reserve, but as the poem became more emotionally intense, so did Connolly’s performance. Throughout, she became more animated, conveying the meaning with impact, especially in the introspective and melancholic closing verses. Paterson made the most of the Interlude for orchestra which links the two songs. Connolly drove the performance of La Mort de l’amour, Paterson following her lead diligently. Here Connolly found altogether different colours to her voice — darker, but highly expressive, performed with sheer conviction. A dead silence followed in the auditorium of The Bridgewater Hall, testament to Connolly’s evocative and poised rendition. The orchestra overshadowed Connolly on several occasions, as the body of strings was perhaps one desk too many, but Connolly’s diction was pristine throughout, which made following the translation a pleasure.

After the interval came a work that needs no introduction: Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony. It was clear from the first bar that both Paterson and the BBCPO were on solid foundations here. Beginning with the hushed Adagio, Paterson was delicate, keeping textures ethereal. Giving way to the Allegro moderato the crescendos became undulating, at times quite turbulent. As the organ entered in the Poco adagio, Jonathan Scott’s choice of stops was excellent; working with Patterson, this section was simple and tender, creating a moment of reverie. Briskly, the second movement’s Allegro moderato began with a sense of urgency and gritty sounds from the strings. The balance of the orchestra in the Presto was slightly skewed at times, the piano completely lost in a wash of sound.

The organ chord that begins the Maestoso certainly blew away any fog that had formed. Scott again was judicious here, voicing his chords with insight on an instrument he knows well and with focused listening, one could hear Scott’s subtle dynamics. The closing Allegro was paced well, the BBCPO giving Patterson everything he commanded in a glorious crowd-pleasing finale. However, this wasn’t the end of the evening. Showcasing the Bridgewater Hall’s organ alone, Scott’s encore the ever-popular Widor Toccata from the Organ Symphony no. 5. Connolly – now a member of the audience – was the first to her feet, revelling, like the rest of us, in Scott’s impressive playing.