Tchaikovsky & Grieg (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)
After his Adelaide concert, Grosvenor concluded his Australian tour with a stellar performance of the Grieg piano concerto with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Asher Fisch, first in Geelong then in Melbourne. The concerto was flanked by Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture and his Fourth Symphony. Even such an exuberant program, with the full forces of the orchestra in fine form, proved the power of music to provide the necessary solace following news of the dreadful events in Paris on 13 November.
Grosvenor demonstrated his perfect artistry and musicianship, bringing extraordinary subtlety of expression to a work better known for its bombastic passages and hair-raising exposed entries for the soloist. He has the amazing ability to project the sound of the piano effortlessly, and creates the most beautiful tone from the instrument, even in the loudest passages for which the concerto is renowned. His pianos and pianissimi were of the greatest delicacy and always fully audible in the packed Hamer Hall. Apart from the superb playing by Grosvenor, what marked this performance was the remarkable ensemble between soloist, conductor, and orchestra, with much of the performance feeling more like a duet between the piano and the other instrumentalists rather than soloist pitted against a symphony orchestra.
Continue reading for only $10 per month. Subscribe and gain full access to Australian Book Review. Already a subscriber? Sign in. If you need assistance, feel free to contact us.
Leave a comment
If you are an ABR subscriber, you will need to sign in to post a comment.
If you have forgotten your sign in details, or if you receive an error message when trying to submit your comment, please email your comment (and the name of the article to which it relates) to ABR Comments. We will review your comment and, subject to approval, we will post it under your name.
Please note that all comments must be approved by ABR and comply with our Terms & Conditions.