With Russia preparing to mark the centenary of the October Revolution, the St Petersburg Symphony brought a striking programme of Russian music to Swansea.
But it was a programme that had a challenging piece for the audience sandwiched between two wonderfully lyrical works.
In 1966 Shostakovich was staying at a sanitorium near Yalta when he composed his second concerto for cello. Comparatively short, the work presents many challenges for the soloist and the audience.
The soloist in this case was Tim Hugh, who has achieved considerable success both home and abroad. Working with the orchestra he grasped the technical difficulties to produce an emotional performance of a work which was quite striking in the cello repertoire.
There is considerable use of percussion which both supports and leads the soloist forward. The music occasionally allows the soloist to lead but generally he is part of the orchestra.
It was a wonderfully driven display by Mr Hugh.
The concert opened with a brisk almost clinical performance of Prokofiev’s first symphony which was composed shortly before the revolution but not performed until the following year.
The symphony has four movements and each one a delight. From a graceful opening the composer moved to a dance-like style and then a lively gavotte, ending with a beautifully lyrical climax.
The music is joyful and colourful and the orchestra clearly enjoyed performing it.
In the second half the orchestra produced a typically Russian approach to the Symphonic Suite Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov.
Based on The Tales of the Arabian Nights and composed almost 130 years ago, the Suite looks at four main stories with the Scheherazade theme prominent throughout.
Conducted by Alexander Dmitriev, who has directed the orchestra for the last 40 years, the musicians produced an energetic display with the expected rich and direct use of brass.
Throughout the music has a mystical feel while at the same time being romantic on the grand scale. Opening with the story of Sinbad the music brings the sea into the concert hall with the rich orchestrations flowing over the audience.
Moving forward, the work continues to develop until the final movement which brings the festival at Baghdad to life and climaxes with the storm at sea and the destruction of the ship. After all the energy the beautiful theme returns to bring the music to an end.
It was a truly breath-taking display by the orchestra and a fitting climax to the festival, which brought many members of the audience to their feet.
What makes Arts Scene in Wales unique:
IT certainly brought me to my feet. I didn’t understand why everybody didn’t join me. They were truly outstanding. Hence my being upstanding.