UWA’s stunning Winthrop Hall was a full house for WASO’s first concert of the season, with magnanimous Maltese-Dutch conductor Lawrence Renes at its helm.
In a WASO first, world renowned violin virtuoso Sergej Krylov guested as a soloist, bringing formidable technical command and intensity to the program. And what a program it was.
The musical festivities commenced with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s lively Magic Flute Overture, under Renes’ expert, animated direction. From the outset, the orchestra delivered crisp articulation and a buoyant energy, encapsulating the whimsy of Mozart’s work.
Next, Sergej Krylov treated us to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s fiery showpiece, Violin Concerto in D, Op.35. From the vibrant Cadenza, to the lyrical Canzonetta, and finally to the flamboyant Finale, Krylov’s evocative performance held the audience in rapt attention. Indeed, it was during the Finale that Renes, WASO and Krylov truly made us sit up and take notice. While it follows on from the hushed tones of the Canzonetta without pause, the exhilarating build-up saw the energy of the room itself change during this movement. Fitting as it is based on the energetic Russian Cossack dance, known as the Trepak.
Receiving thunderous applause, and unsurprisingly so, Krylov segued into an impromptu encore performance of Paganini’s iconic Caprice No.24 in A minor, much to the delight of the audience.
In the final portion of the night’s program, Renes took us through his selection of movements from Sergei Prokofiev’s suites, to create his own mini ballet score of Romeo and Juliet. Only ever having watched the full length ballet, it was a different experience for me. I felt like a fly on the wall in an orchestral pit, observing the drama unfold purely through the colour and intensity of the music.
As a season opener, the concert was pure, blissful artistry. The orchestra, with the combination of Sergej Krylov’s virtuosic brilliance and Lawrence Renes’ assured leadership, have truly outdone themselves – I cannot wait to watch the rest of the season’s offerings.
And more than a week on, I still have the majestic Montagues and Capulets (Suite No. 2) playing on a loop in my head.