Symphony concert

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 6

Symphony concert

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, at the Town Hall, Saturday, October 9. Reviewed by Heath Lees. Not so long ago the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra gave us the first performance of; Edwin Carr's new symphony. On Saturday, we had the South Island premiere of John Rimmer’s Viola Concerto. No-one can complain that the orchestra's programmes are unexciting, -»ef that New Zealand composers are neglected. CjThe work itself is full of ’fascinating sounds and ideas. > Sometimes it seems to hang Suspended in space, with the exotic touches in the percussion giving it a peculiarly South Pacific stamp, while at other times the energetic

orchestral sections have the muscular leanness of Bartok or Lutoslawski. Shape is generated more by contrasts and reflections than by thematic linking, and the central cadenza is beautifully handled, the orchestra gradually dying in order to give birth to the solo instrument, which in turn begins the process of . reviving the ~ whole body of sound once. ' more. Vyvyan Yendoll gave a ■ convincing and musical account of the solo part, but was hampered by the fact ’ that the music he is given is rarely sufficiently distinguished — or distinctive — for him to create a clarity of profile against -the work’s over-all frame. Ciear profile was certainly

not lacking in the other two works. Beethoven’s second symphony (which always suffers from the genetic misfortune of being neither the. first nor the third) was given a vital but meticulous reading by the conductor, Janos Furst, whose control of both players; and music was masterly. Not even .Furst however, could make the Dvorak D minor symphony sound more than merely enjoyable. Although. the music itself was contrived it was never allowed to appear dull. There were some lovely rich passages, some good tunes, and an often satisfying sense of climax at all the right places. With such a work, no-one could ask for more. _.