A Night of Musical Mastery: Melbourne Symphony's Stirring Performance

The Melbourne Symphony, under the baton of conductor Vernon Handley, presented a captivating concert that defied the program's uneven appearance. The evening's unexpected triumph was largely due to the exceptional responsiveness of the contributors, including visiting violinist Augustin Dumay, who delivered a mesmerizing performance in the Saint-Saens B minor violin concerto.

Key Takeaways:

• Augustin Dumay impressed the audience with his technical mastery and incisive sound on stage, showcasing his ability to dominate the solo part in the Saint-Saens concerto.
• The reduced number of string players in the orchestra allowed Dumay's solo to shine, highlighting his clear security with the manifold technical problems interpolated by the composer.
• Debussy's Nocturnes, rarely performed by the Melbourne Symphony, were skillfully handled by the orchestra, with the Faye Dumont Singers providing a stunning off-stage chorus of Sirens in the last part.
• Conductor Vernon Handley's rapid pace in the Beethoven symphony delivered an epoch-making, blazing intensity, with the brass section encouraged to full power in a satisfying conclusion to the program.

Statistics:

• The Melbourne Symphony has not performed Saint-Saens' B minor violin concerto since 1966.
• The performance of Debussy's Nocturnes was a rare occurrence for the Melbourne Symphony.
• The concert featured a reduced orchestra, which focused attention on soloist Augustin Dumay's virtuosic performance.

Sources:

• Clive O'Connell, "ABC Master Series No. 8: violin Augustin Dumay, conductor Vernon Handley, Melbourne Symphony, Faye Dumont Singers, Concert Hall, Friday"