Barber & Rachmaninoff, CBSO, Symphony Hall Birmingham, 13 June 2024.

4✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.

“Emotional the technical fireworks in an impressive performance of Barber’s Cello masterwork.”

Dvořák – Carnival Overture

Barber – Cello Concerto

Rachmaninoff – Symphony No. 3

A concert dominated by two major mid 20th Century works which share certain commonalities. Both are, in their own way, rooted in Romantic musical language. Both strive, in their own way, to find a modern voice.

In this last endeavour, Barber’s ‘Cello Concerto’, is the more successful and authentic. An emotionally compelling work, full of dark chromaticism. The Cello is a restless, brooding, stalking presence; here punching through translucent sting textures, there weaving sinuously through woodwind chords.

Alisa Weilerstein, attacked the solo cello part with unwavering and, at times, almost furious intensity. Clearly living every moment, here immersion seemed total. Her playing came from deep within herself, the music and the ensemble. This is a seriously challenging work, emotionally and technically. Weilerstein approached both of these challenges with fearlessness.

The orchestra reciprocated Weilerstein’s commitment, playing with power and attention to detail. Conductor, Kevin John Edusei provided a discreate but authoritative intermediary. A very impressive performance indeed.

In contrast to the Barber, Rachmaninov’s ‘Symphony No. 3’ wears its modernity less easily. We get the big melodies we associate with this composer, but he seems to be speaking with an American voice and a Californian, Hollywood twang. Edusei sought to exploit the tensions between the nostalgic and the forward-looking by accentuating them. The highly coloured result felt a bit piecemeal, and at time it was difficult to follow the musical argument or see where it was all going.

Nevertheless, there was clearly a strong rapport between orchestra and conductor. The latter delivering lushness, tight ensemble and lovely expansive phrasing.

The concert kicked off with an impressive orchestral show piece. Dvořák’s ‘Carnival Overture’ was given a rumbunctious reading, full of life and colour. Sterling work from the percussionists. The orchestra showed it mettle from the start and continued to impress in a concert comprised entirely of technically challenging music.

Conductor – Kevin John Edusei

Cello – Alisa Weilerstein