Today's pianists must work with plastic, wood, felt, ,copper, iron and steel to make all kinds of sounds ranging from delicate pianissimos to robust
fortissimos. It is hard work.
Lugubrious dark clarinets opened Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony, with sweeping strings introducing the full orchestra with majestic
fortissimo. All emotions from heart-stopping tenderness to overwhelming
fortissimos were revealed in this account under MYO alumnus and conductor Anthony Bradbury - no holds barred!
Yet there was a great balance between delicate approaches and thundering
fortissimos.
All-rounder Ore Oduba presented the evening - an experienced TV host (Strictly Come Dancing) who was perhaps more panto than Symphony at times, as his microphone was frequently delivering painful
fortissimos in this sound-sensitive hall.
This was a feature of the choral singing,as was the rich variety of tone colours and wide range of dynamics from expressive soft sonorities to blazing
fortissimos.
However, we were suitably entranced by the exquisite singing from all sections of the choir: rich basses, fine sopranos, warm filling harmonies, almost inaudible pianissimos and hair-raising
fortissimos.
But it was not all thundering
fortissimos. There were extremely tender and controlled quiet passages in the Faure.It's a deceptively difficult piece to perform and this choir did it very well indeed.