Review: Music director's bold move showcasing Russian works pays off

Jose Aparicio's selection of music was a hit with concert goers. Photo / File

Hawke's Bay Orchestra
Leader Stephanie Buzzard
Directed by Jose Aparicio
Music by Shostakovich and Tchaikowsky\
St Paul's Church, Napier
Saturday 8 April

Choosing a concert programme of Russian music including two works by 20th century composer Dimitri Shostakovich, for the strings alone of the Hawke's Bay Orchestra, was a bold move by Jose Aparicio.

However, balanced by one of the most famous compositions by Tchaikowsky, Aparicio knew what he was about, providing an enthusiastic audience with a unique music experience.

Ideally the orchestra could have had more than 17 players but what was achieved was impressive and a credit to both players and conductor alike.

Shostakovich was one of the towering composers of the 20th century whose music was often blighted by the restrictions placed on artistic endeavour by the restrictive Soviet regime.

This influence was clearly shown in the first item played - Chamber Symphony Op 110a, a transcription of the composer's very personal String Quartet No 8.

The playing of the opening Largo movement depicted a sombre mood, leading to the four other contrasted, linked movements which followed.

Each clearly portrayed a particular aspect of the composer's life and music - the often quirky emphasis of the Waltz in the third movement and the struggle he endured at times in the deeply expressive playing of the final two Largo movements, highlighted by the poignant solo playing from principal cellist Cameron Stuart.

A vivid contrast was provided in the sparkling performance of the Concerto in C Minor for Piano Trumpet and Strings Op 35 which dates from the happier early days in Shostakovich's career.

From the opening bars, piano soloist Matteo Napoli certainly showed he had the measure of the quizzical, idiomatic style of the music, with his strong projection of all its twists and turns of sudden changes in rhythm and expression.

The orchestra matched him all the way, particularly in the final Allegro con brio with the lively playing of the alternating rhythmic patterns building to an impressive climax.

The trumpet solo part, confidently played by Tom Wilkinson (who also wrote the excellent programme notes) was more of a commentary in the early part with a much more dominant solo role later, adding to the joyful brilliance of the final movement.

Tchaikowsky's Serenade for Strings in C Op 48 is one of the most popular of all works for string orchestra.

As with the other items, José Aparicio directed with consummate skill, bringing out all the grandeur of the opening and closing bars, the absolute elan of the famous second movement waltz and ensuring a brilliant final movement with all its Russian folk emphasis.