Only Gergiev and the LSO are doing all the Szymanowski symphonies as a series. Juliet Willaims has been listening to the series in Edinburgh and reports: ( For the first concert, read HERE)
"Last night's performance in the
Usher Hall, continuing the Brahms/Szymanowski cycle, saw one work which
emphasised the parallels between the composers and one which emphasised their
differences.
"It was interesting hearing
Brahms' Variations on a Theme by Haydn having heard the set of
variations which form the second movement of Szymanowski's second symphony the
previous evening. This supported the argument that Szymanowski should be viewed
within the European mainstream. Both of these were played well, and other than
the Violin Concerto with Nicola Benedettini, this has been the best performance
of Szymanowski here to date. Slightly surprising, the Brahms variations
followed his Third Symphony in the
programme.
"Song of the Night, as
Szymanowksi's Third symphony is subtitled, is a setting for tenor voice (here
Steve Davislim, who has also performed this role under Boulez), large chorus
and orchestra of a poem by Rumi,
translated into Polish by a friend of the composer's. It speaks of looking up
into stars and losing oneself in transcendance and bliss. It is self
consciously orientalist and was inspired by travels in North Africa and the near
east. The most obvious connection with any other composer's works is that of
Scriabin, and in particular the Poem of Ecstasy.
"Although the opportunity to hear
this seldom performed work is welcome, it did not sit very easily alongside
its companions on the programme. Brahms to me does speak of ecstacy and bliss,
especially in his Second and Third symphonies, although he writes candidly
about feelings of pain and melancholy, but his bliss is a more moderate,
northern European one: a fine sunny day looking out across the beautiful river
view at Wiesbaden where the Third was written, rather than a sultry night in a
Persian tent like Szymanowski.
"For the synthesis or resolution
between these apparantly divergent musical strands, we may have to look to a
subsequent Polish composer, Lutoslawski – whose works are performed next week
at the Festival – whose influences westwards as well as eastwards are stronger in my view than those
of Szymanowksi. For the synthesis or resolution between these apparantly
divergent musical strands, we may have to look to a subsequent Polish composer,
Lutoslawski – whose works are performed next week at the Festival – whose
influences westwards as well as
eastwards are stronger in my view than those of Szymanowksi. He was
profoundly influenced by hearing, at the age of only 11, the first Warsaw
performance of this work we have heard last night.
"Brahms as a young man was
exercised as to what, after Beethoven, he or any other composer could then
bring to the symphonic tradition. However, I find his symphonies some of the
most enjoyable of the classical repertoire; they are what I would listen to if
I wanted to feel better, to leave the cares of the day behind as the shadows
lengthened. At least one Brahms symphony would be in my selection for the
infamous desert island; I am simply not sure whether I would choose the Second
or the Third – both of which I like very much.
"The style of Brahms which is
emerging in these performances does not emphasise these mellow, lyrical
qualities of his music. Rather, it is precise and crisp; devoid of all repeats and occasionally a
little fast, it can seem impatient at times. It may to some listeners seem
clinically cold or distant from the music's restrained but genuine emotional
warmth.
"Edinburgh Festival Chorus
returned to the Usher Hall in Szymanowski's also demanding work and were
particularly pleasing in the sections of wordless song. Having last seen them
in the Delius
'Mass of Life has brought that composer to mind, and this is a comparison
which merits a little further pondering, especially this nocturne and the
rather differently located nocturne Paris,
Song of a Great City, as well actually as with the 'Mass of Life' itself.
The other particular commendation I would give is the LSO's leader, Roman Simovic, who had an
enjoyable solo in the Song of Life.
"The works of Rumi are also
featured in a another strand of the festival events in Edinburgh, a series of
intercultural events held at St Johns Church under the banner 'Festival of Spirituality and
Peace'. Performances, readings and workshops on Rumi's writings take place
on 19, 22, 24 and 25 August."
photo of Rumi's tomb by Georges Jansoone
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