Gardner galvanises CBSO in Walton's Second

By Richard Ely, 23 September 2016

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“an inspired body of sound that was both seductive and sinister”

Reviewed at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 22 September 2016

Beethoven, Egmont, Op.84: Overture

Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 1 in C major, Op.15

Butterworth, A Shropshire Lad, rhapsody for string orchestra

Walton, Symphony no. 2

Steven Osborne, Piano

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Edward Gardner, Conductor

Yamada and the CBSO’s Walton expedition at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 10th March

In Hamburg, Kazuki Yamada and the CBSO navigate the thorny brilliance of Walton’s First Symphony, proving that ‘difficult’ music can offer an evening’s most profound human connection.

****1

Kazuki Yamada and the CBSO stir up swelling seas with Scheherazade

Robert Gainer, 4th March

In the CBSO Benevolent Fund concert, the orchestra tells the timeless story, set in Persia, of Scheherazade who, through her storytelling, brings about peace.

****1

François Leleux and Lisa Batiashvili play fire and ice with the CBSO

Robert Gainer, 1st February

The CBSO’s Birmingham’s Town Hall matinee sets forth a curious mix of Baroque, Classical, and modern music, sandwiching a lesser-known concerto between some familiar tunes.

***11

Yamada and the CBSO luxuriate in line at Symphony Hall

Simon Cummings, 15th January

Mahler’s First Symphony is given a fresh take, revelling in melody, by Kazuki Yamada and the CBSO, while Dai Fujikura’s new Trombone Concerto proves an unsatisfactory indulgence.

****1

Kazuki Yamada and the CBSO showcase Richard Strauss

Robert Gainer, 10th December

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra greet an old friend and say farewell to another in a thoroughly absorbing all-Strauss programme.

*****

Osmo Vänskä ruins Sibelius and Shostakovich in Birmingham

Simon Cummings, 19th November

Soprano Helena Juntunen does her best in Sibelius’ songs but finds little support from Osmo Vänskä and the CBSO.

*1111

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Richard Ely

After studying History at Leicester University, Richard trained as an actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and subsequently worked in theatres in London, Nottingham, Sheffield and Chester. He is the author and performer of several one-man shows, including the acclaimed Wagner: Journey Into Genius. His other writing interests include politics, culture, film and theatre. Richard’s principal devotion is to opera and music drama, especially those of Wagner and Strauss. He has an additional attachment to under-exposed late and post-Romantic composers such as Schreker and Shoeck. He also enjoys the symphonic and chamber music of this period.

Spirit of England: Gardner galvanises CBSO in Walton's Second