Review: 4th Subscription Series, BEETHOVEN AND DVORAK. Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Isaiah Jackson. At Llewellyn Hall, November 6 1996

Canberra Symphony Orchestra

Wednesday 6th November 1996

Llewellyn Hall

Isaiah Jackson - Conductor

Kathryn Selby - Piano

Reviewed by Tony Magee

Isaiah Jackson

Once again it was a delight to see and hear the results of preparation and performance by Canberra Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Isaiah Jackson. Formerly assistant to Leopold Stokowski, Jackson not surprisingly retains some of the late master's techniques in his own style - the huge sweeping, manipulative hand gestures, the infrequent use of a baton, surging, almost exaggerated dynamics and of course that famous lush (and sometimes controversial) sound.

All these qualities were used to full effect in the opening work, the overture to Rossini's opera Semiramide, played with feeling, passion and beauty by the orchestra. 

The first of the two substantial works for the evening followed - Beethoven's Piano concerto No 3 in C minor, with Kathryn Selby as the soloist. On the whole this was a wonderful performance. Kathryn Selby is an extremely fine pianist and her playing displayed an almost perfect artistic balance between tone production, technique, phrasing and style. She is also an extremely confident musician and whilst she and Isaiah Jackson worked very well together, I got the feeling that the real control in this performance came from her own hands rather than the pair on the podium behind her.

Kathryn Selby

Balance between soloist and orchestra was always excellent although at times I felt the accompaniment was just a little stilted. Overall a really great performance of one of the world's favourite piano concertos.

The final work for the evening was Dvorak's Symphony No 8 in G major. In this the orchestra displayed fine tonal balance particularly in the many sections within this symphony which place focused attention on solo and sectional counterpoint and frequent tonal changes from major to minor.

A great finish to the year's program for Canberra Symphony Orchestra and I look forward to 1997's new and further expanded program.

Originally published in Muse Arts Monthly (Canberra), December 1996