AURORA ORCHESTRA AT THE SAFFRON HALL
The Aurora Orchestra
What an end to the Cambridge Summer Music Festival. A stunning premier of Beethoven 5 done from Memory by the accomplished joint intelligence of a vast orchestra , all of one mind, all focussed on one extraordinary project. It was an experience beyond a concert. This was a mind altering approach to a piece of music, a project designed to take us deep into the structure of Beethoven’s timeless wondrous composition.
For anyone reading this review live , the Prom tonight IS the Aurora Orchestra in the second performance of this magical feat of education ,illumination and delight. So tune in.
Ringmaster of the proceedings was Tom Service of Radio Three Music Matters, he of the enthusiastic delivery and catchy Scottish intonation. Here he was in top form . He promised to unleash an entirely new dimension to deepen our understanding of the work. And we were to join in. Along with the acclaimed international conductor Nicholas Collon ( how did fabulous curls become the thing in the music world, was it Simon Rattle?) they made a slick but stimulating presentation of how the four- beat core of Beethoven 5 ran through the symphony. He produced four timpanists ‘ as they know about rhythm” who magically appeared to demonstrate the all -important structure and then - extraordinarily together we clapped out the rhythm, divided into four groups.How very hard it is to listen out for your cue . Both presenters were lucid and entertaining..
From the moment the musicians marched on stage this was an unusual - and unique experience for most of the audience.
But that was not by any means all. In the dramatic glamorous vaulted interior of Saffron Hall arrived the sonorous majesty of the first piece of the evening Iannis Xenakis’ ‘O-Mega’ his very last composition . Thrilling loud assertive and bold it was written for Evelyn Glennie and conveyed the poise of Xenakis’ work - an architect by training , his speciality was mathematics. A friend advised “ Take advantage of these things. Do them in your music’ The result is a unique composer of genius.
Next up was Dimitri Shostakovich Violin Concerto No ! In A minor Op 77. Condemned by Stalin, the composer is the right choice for a conflict ridden world with an aggressive Russia again on the offensive. Sensationally the lead violinist was none other than the celebrated - all right notorious- genius ,Patricia Kopatchinkskaja. Quite simply she is a musician like no other. She came briskly on stage, barefoot, the violin held aloft above her head. And from the moment she stood before the orchestra it was clear she connected with them at a deeply emotional level.
The tremulous first note of the symphony was breathtaking. It seemed to go on a plaintive delicate vulnerable arc forever. But when the ensemble sections began, Kopatchinkskaja’s wild vigour simply shot through the auditorium. Prominent humanitarian, laden with musical accolades this is a performer worth travelling for. But to have her served up at the almost local Saffron Hall a scenic train ride from Cambridge, she appeared as a semi miraculous visitation. Amazing sustained warm support from her fellow musicians only amplified the knowledge one was in the presence of a significant and important player of our time.
A brief Cadenza follows: Saffron Hall is a wonder in itself. The staff are fabulous, the acoustic brilliant and it can accommodate a full orchestra. It is time Cambridge Critiquers, we renewed our call for a concert hall here. We’re worf it.
