Review by Steve Cooke
Eight years ago, Manchester Camerata embarked on a remarkable project, to perform and record an edition of Mozart’s piano concertos plus all his opera overtures.
At the Stoller Hall on Saturday 21 September they triumphantly reached their goal with the overture to La finta semplice, Concert-Rondo in A (K386), the Two-piano Concerto (K365), the Idomeneo overture, Concert-Rondo (in D, K382) and the Three Piano Concerto.
The evening proved to be an exhilarating celebration of not only a remarkable project, but outstanding musicianship led by the effervescent Gábor Takács-Nagy with the award winning, prolific and highly engaging pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.
In the two-piano concerto (K365) we were introduced to Andrea Nemecz – aka Mme Bavouzet – who behind the scenes has been very much a part of the project, and now solo-duettist along with her husband.
The pianos were set at the front of the platform in an inverted V-shape, with the soloists, backs to the audience, able to see other enabling total synchronicity. The performance was greatly enhanced by Rachael Clegg’s brightly shining oboe solos .
The “Mozart, made in Manchester” project has presented opportunities for young string players from Chetham’s School of Music to join the orchestra for concerts, and that was the case again and in the three-piano concerto, M and Mme Bavouzet were joined by Rose McLachlan as soloists, this time with the three pianos like petals across the front of the platform. The audience were both delighted and fascinated by the interweaving of Mozart’s three pianos’ lines.
Those of us lucky enough to have been at this party will never forget this life enhancing experience in the presence of not only remarkable musicians interpreting remarkable music but people who exude genuine warmth and affection.
I am delighted that they aren’t done yet. The next stage of the project (with Chandos continuing to record the results) is to be the four horn concertos, with soloist Martin Owen.
Comments