NSSO: An intriguing programme brought to life by the ebullient Steven Hillinger

North Sydney Symphony Orchestra | September Concert

September 28, 2024, Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney, NSW

The friendly rivalry between the  North Sydney and the Willoughby Symphony Orchestras (surely two of the best community orchestras in the world) was renewed at Verbrugghen Hall with a concert that could reasonably described as ‘tumultuous’.

Sir Malcolm Arnold is more familiar to Englishmen than Australians, the Peterloo massacre even more so. The former was a prolific twentieth century composer whose output included nine symphonies and scores to many popular films. Memories of  him are tarnished by an unsavoury personal life. His Peterloo Overture was commissioned by the TUC (Trades Union Congress) to commemorate its bicentenary.  The massacre occurred in 1819 when a peaceful rally by 80,000 Mancunians was broken up by militia, including cavalry, and 20 people were killed and 500 injured. Eventually it achieved its aim of full proportional representation.

The overture starts with an Elgarian theme representing the jingoistic English aristocracy. Infantry in the form of drums soon appear and gradually increase to a prolonged crescendo of cacophony representing the invasion by troops. I’ve never heard so much percussion before, not even in a Nielsen symphony. The serene but dissonant episode follows after a trumpet solo mourns the dead and injured.

This brought the audience to the appropriate mindset for the opening of Ross Edwards piano concerto in which the soloist attacks the piano with a force similar to that of the above infantry. I confess that I had only heard extracts of this rarely performed work and my anticipation was fulfilled. Flourishing arpeggios by the soloist are accompanied by trills on the woodwinds while the composer’s famous three note figure abounds and the whole gives an impression of the native bush. A short but exquisite slow movement is followed by a Finale which summarises the previous themes brilliantly and appropriately ends suddenly. I cannot think of a more challenging piece for the pianist but Bernadette Harvey handled it with ease, and moreover with obvious enjoyment. Very uplifting, as the composer present in the audience would confirm.

Bernadette is well known to Australian audiences in her role as soloist, educator and member of the Streeton Trio and is an avowed champion of Ross’s music.

In the second half we heard a more conventional but nonetheless beloved work namely Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition arranged for orchestra by Ravel. This work is something of a one-hit wonder as most of the composer’s output has not stood the test of time  This work is inspired by the premature death of the composer’s close friend Victor Hartmann and takes the form of variations based on the artist’s paintings. The music is so carefully composed and artistically shaped that it is difficult to explain why we hear so little of Mussorgsky’s output. The description of the unhatched chicks and the chattering at Limoges market are particularly appealing.

 An intriguing programme was brought to life by an accomplished Orchestra under the ebullient leadership of  familiar figure Steven Hillinger. The percussionists deserve a holiday, the trombonists excelled, often muted. Even the double basses had their solo moment in the Concerto while some wavering in the horns could be forgiven.