Spectacular Strauss: Orchestra London's Ovation Series

Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss Oboe Concerto and Wolfgang Mozart Symphony No. 38 "Prague"

by Brian Hay

The first work presented was the "Siegfried Idyll" by Richard Wagner. The playing from the string section was delicious. It was restrained, gentle and lovingly tender. The orchestra's work on the wind passages was ravishingly beautiful. Their presentation of the segments that draw from the "Forest Murmurs" was especially enchanting. The horn passage that borrows from Siegried's entry was haunting. The moments when the ensemble came together rang with thunder. As with all great musical drama it pulled in several directions but came together with the love and reverence that Wagner felt when he made a gift of the music to the woman he adored. This pretty much set the standard for the evening.

There aren't any words to describe the performance Ian Franklin gave of the solo part for the Oboe Concerto by Richard Strauss. 'Excellent' comes to mind but it doesn't begin to describe what he did. 'Brilliant' and 'fabulous' fall short as well. If he should read this I hope he won't be embarrassed but I can't help stating this. His work was breathtaking and deeply moving. It's not often that something that demands that level of virtuosity also serves the art of making great music so completely as this did.

The playing from the orchestra complimented Franklin's work beautifully. All of the instrumental sections were excellent. Their playing alternated between periods of great restraint and and grand exuberance according to the demands of the music. The most tender segments emerged softly and gently. The instrumental flourishes were played as if they were that. The dialogue between ensemble and soloist sparkled with spontaneity because the timing from all the participants was exemplary. It was a grand finale for the first half of the concert.

An interesting side note about this piece is that John de Lancie, the oboist who suggested the idea for the concerto to Strauss was the father of John de Lancie, the actor who portrayed "Q" in "The Next Generation" and other incarnations of the "Star Trek" Franchise.

The "Prague" symphony is a work from Mozart at (or near to) his creative peak. It's governed by the taste and seamless logic that permeates his work but it steps outside the bounds he'd previously adhered to when working within that genre. The opening passages are dark in character. Even when the tempo changes the music in the first movement never lightens completely. It seethes with tension. The orchestra's playing was restrained but in a way that kept these passions threatening to boil through to the surface. The dramatic segments were accentuated wonderfully. (Conductor) Timothy Vernon kept the different sections pulling away from each other as if they were working from opposing poles. When he brought them together for the crescendos it was as if to make the earth move. The lovely slow movement (Andante) that fills the middle of the piece was played with all the grace and beauty it deserves. The Presto (fast movement) was injected with a sense of drama that's often missing on recordings. It was a brilliant presentation of one of Mozart's best symphonic works.

This was an excellent show. The program featured music from three different centuries yet it was very well balanced. The orchestra was in excellent form. They always play well and with enthusiasm but this performance had a sense of something that transcended their norm and shone like a beacon.

It was a joy to watch and to listen to.

This performance took place in Centennial Hall on Saturday January 23, 2010 in London, Ontario

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