Live reviews
De Montfort
Hall – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Rock Me Amadeus (Michael Collins style)
If
you are a listener to Classic FM, then you will be no stranger to Mozart’s
Clarinet Concerto In A (2nd Movement). It’s been played more often
than I’ve had hot dinners. Like radio jingles permanently etched
in my head, I had to be so careful that I didn’t start singing along
to the clarinet. Now THAT would have been embarrassing.
Virtuoso Michael Collins projected such harmonious eye and finger movements
that he enchanted the audience like rats to the Pied Piper. I believe
that if ITV ever decided to produce “Classical Music Idol” in
an attempt to boost up classical music sales, Michael Collins would definitely
have made it to the final four. Most impressive.
The second piece of the evening was to be Symphony No.5 in D minor by
Dmitri Shostakovich. I have to confess that I have never heard of this
composer, let alone the piece of music. Unfamiliarity made me prejudgmental
and sceptical that this would be rather an anti-climax to the evening’s
proceedings. As it turned out, I couldn’t have been further from
the truth. My senses were awoken by a kaleidoscope of sounds from a whole
spectrum of instruments, and the whole thing was reminiscent of Vaughn
Williams’ “Pastoral Symphony”. This beautiful, romantic
piece was a remarkable way to finish the show, and I for one will be hotfooting
it down to the local record stores to add this work of genius to my collection
as soon as I can.
Reviewed by Lucy Bartholomew
