REVIEW: Alexander Janiczek & the Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Strathpeffer Spa Pavilion, 8 July 2010

James Munro, Hi-Arts, 12 July 2010

"THE SCOTTISH Chamber Orchestra’s annual visit to the Spa Pavilion has earned its position as a much anticipated event, and although Thursday’s concert was slightly later in the year than in past summers this only served to increase the anticipation in the village...

For these three concerts in the 2010 Highland Tour, the others being in Thurso and Kingussie, the SCO were joined by their former leader, the Austrian virtuoso Alexander Janiczek as director and soloist. There can be no doubt that the concentration demanded of the musicians by the lack of somebody waving a baton at them increases their rapport and, in this case, delivered an evening of supreme quality.

Beethoven was not renowned for composing ballet music, indeed other than a youthful ghost-written work for Count Waldstein, his only example in that genre was the opener of this concert, The Creatures of Prometheus, his first Viennese success. It was a crisp, pacy atmospheric set of an overture and a selection of dances that was remarkably reminiscent of Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony with its tempest and pastoral sections.

Janiczek had the measure of Beethoven’s themes and the orchestra were inspired to follow his example, especially during an excellent clarinet solo from Maximillano Martin. The music was sublime...

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With Alexander Janiczek directing this performance of [Mozart's] Jupiter was flawless. The strings were precise, the wind provided the perfect foil and the distinctive tones of the natural horns and trumpets gave the sound such an exemplary character.

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