To Symphony Hall in Birmingham for the Australian Chamber
Orchestra on tour. Perfect programme, brilliantly played.
What could be more delicious than this: one of Haydn’s most
scintillating symphonies, the 'Hen', written for Paris; Mozart at his most
profound, his last piano concerto, beautifully played by Steven Osborne; a
brand new work by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, post-Pendereckian, wonderfully
atmospheric in that hall, and with the composer on stage with the band playing
an amplified sitar; and Tchaikovsky at his most joyfully ecstatic, his Souvenir
de Florence.
The ACO really isn’t just another chamber orchestra. They are
world-class and have a very distinct character ‒ energetic yet soulful, standing to play, swaying,
absolute unity, all in black. Tremendous audience reaction.
So what’s the problem? The hall was maximum 15% occupied.
Maybe less. Acres of empty space.
Had the Symphony Hall marketing and publicity people gone on
strike?
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