Edinburgh Arts

What a shame adventurous programming doesn't encourage larger audiences. True, I was able to get free tickets to this, but one would hope that an evening of Copland, Adams, Daugherty and Ellington conducted by one of Scotland's most dynamic young conductors would not be a turn-off for everyone bar season ticket holders ...

Garry Walker, the RSNO's Principal Guest Conductor, led by example, really getting into the spirit of every piece in the programme, which was nothing if not ecclectic. Following a rousing Billy the Kid suite came the emotional core of the evening - John Adams' On the transmigration of souls, written to commemorate the victims of the World Trade Center attacks - in a moving rendition of what is clearly not the easiest of music to get to grips with, for the musicians or the audience. The long pause at its conclusion may be put down to the latter's unfamiliarity with the score, but I'd like to hope others, like me, were hesitant in breaking in on the silence.

The second half, on the other hand, was sheer fun. First off, the orchestra was reduced to an ensemble of just seven players for Daugherty's Dead Elvis before the rest of the orchestra returned for the same composer's Red cape tango (from the Metropolis symphony). Wonderful performances (David Hubbard, on bassoon, clearly having a great time impersonating Elvis) but the combination was ill-chosen, with both pieces being based on the Dies irae plainchant, so that the second outstayed its welcome - and to my mind, it wasn't so much a tango as a habañera. Thankfully, the concluding number was positively joyous. It's not very often a symphony orchestra gets to let its hair down with big band stuff, and I can only hope they enjoyed playing Ellington's Harlem as much as we enjoyed hearing it.

I doubt the concert hall was even half-full, which was a tremendous pity. I can only hope the word spreads, because we cannot have one of Scotland's leading orchestras play it safe. Please continue to stretch your and our minds!

(25th February 2006)