Review: A mighty triumph by the Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra

Never shy of facing up to a challenge, WSO embarked on yet another mighty challenge last Saturday, comprising Tchaikovsky’s Italian Caprice, Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto and Debussy’s symphonic sketches, La Mer. And all this was delivered to a very full house - latecomers struggling to find an empty chair.

This mighty challenge required two harps, four double basses and the pleasing sight of nine cellos.

Guest conductor Peter Donohoe reminded us of his strong link with WSO over a period of 35 years, during which time he has demonstrated his skills playing the very best loved and most challenging piano concertos.

With Donohoe wielding the baton, it was Birmingham Conservatoire’s Philip Martin’s opportunity to tackle the most technically challenging of the concertos in the classical repertoire – Rachmaninov’s 1909 Third Concerto – a piece respected by all pianists, and even feared by some. Not so for Philip Martin as he worked synergistically with his peer, Donohoe.

Heart-stopping, sitting breathlessly on the edge of one’s seat was the consistent reaction to the performance. At times Martin struggled to be heard above the orchestra. However, he excelled in the cadenzas – most especially the solo cadenza in the last movement.

To bridge the gap between Rachmaninov and Debussy, Donohoe joined Martin for a piano duet, playing the last movement from Ravel’s Ma mère l’oye (Mother Goose Suite). The sight of Donohoe and Martin at the same keyboard was quite a highlight of the night.

As Debussy matured so his music became more and more influential. By 1905 his capabilities extended to writing the radical, wonderful work La Mer, which builds throughout three movements to a violent climax celebrating the overwhelming power of the sea and reminding us – as we recognise from recent stormy events - that life owes everything to it.

Donohoe called for special recognition of the brass and wind sections at the end of a mighty triumph.

Clive Peacock