Day 43
Szymanowski :Violin concerto no 1 op 35
Thomas Zehetmair
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Simon Rattle
I don't really have any memories of Szymanowski. I vaguely recall hearing the 3rd symphony years ago and I might have listed to the opening scene of King Roger but in reality this is unknown territory for me.
What a fabulous piece this violin concerto (1916) is The sound world has hints of Ravel, Bartók and early Stravinsky but with a richness at the climaxes which almost suggested Rachmaninov. But it all hangs together very well and there is no doubt that the composer has his own distinctive voice. The solo part is fearsome, with some folk music inspired double and triple stopping and lots of sustained quiet lyrical passages in the very highest register - which must be an absolute nightmare to control with the bow. But in many ways it is the orchestral writing which commands attention. There are prominent parts for celeste, piano and two harps which, together with an enlarged percussion section add a real sense of colour to the score. Speaking of percussion the use of the tambourine here in quiet passages is really effective and shows that its use does not have to be confined to pastiche Spanish music.
This was certainly one of the major discoveries of this project and I am sure that I will explore more of Szyamowski's music - I really must have a proper listen to the whole of King Roger and the Stabat Mater, which several people have called his best single composition.
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