Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Pavilion, Bournemouth
Hooked on Beethoven, the BSO players, under the dashing captaincy of Kirill Karabits, turned in performances of captivating fluency.
Virtuoso pianist Francois-Frederic Guy delighted in his treatment of the Piano Concerto No.1. Powerful play, fluid scale runs and precision attack marked Guy's positive momentum through to the Largo.
If the early floodlighting on the front benches was under par, the playing of the Overture Leonora No. 1 was pitch perfect.
Launching into the Fifth Symphony with barely a second breath Karabits' rhythmic thrust hurled those famous four notes into the arena with aplomb. There was no point scoring in his account, the second movement's graceful episodes separating vigorous excursions in scrumptious musicianship.
Growling exhibitions of lower strings energise the penultimate movement, inciting the entire ensemble to unity of purpose, withdrawing for the final push forward. Here the sweep of the final Presto matched this magnificent score with a heart-pounding result. And how many punters lost all this for a rugby game?
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