Prom 10: Academy of Santa Cecilia/Pappano – review Jul 21st 2013, 12:54
Royal Albert Hall, London
This year's Proms make a feature of piano concertos, with no less than 22 examples included during the season. One of the most popular of all – the Schumann – formed the centrepiece of the first concert in Antonio Pappano's visit with his Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rome, with the 18-year-old Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki as soloist.
This proved to be a performance of extraordinary accomplishment. The Schumann may be far from the most technically difficult in the romantic repertoire, but its bravura moments – especially the very opening gesture, and the athletic writing throughout the finale – were authoritatively delivered. More to the point, the sensitivity and intimacy of the bulk of the solo part were presented with exceptional maturity and poise. Pappano and his players dovetailed immaculately with the pianist, the orchestra's woodwind, in particular, offering many solo highlights. Lisiecki's encore – Chopin's posthumously published Nocturne in C sharp minor – confirmed an artist of remarkable refinement.
The performance of Mozart's Haffner Symphony that began the concert remained a little earthbound in the opening movement before achieving distinction in the Andante, which Pappano kept gracefully on the move. Thereafter, the spirit of Mozartian opera buffa prevailed in a reading that was lively and humane, if not as characterful in detail as some.
After the interval came Rachmaninov's epic Second Symphony. It's a sprawling piece, and at times Pappano's approach needed a greater breadth and intensity of vision to hold the vast structure in sharp focus. But there were wonderful sections. Taken daringly slowly, the nostalgic Adagio poured out in great waves of irretrievable loss, while the scherzo was vividly energised, and the finale alternated elation with grand melodic sweep. The orchestra's own encore – the brilliant final section of Ponchielli's Dance of the Hours – was sheer perfection.
• Repeated on Radio 3 on 23 July and broadcast on BBC Four on 25 July. Available via the Radio 3 website and BBC iPlayer
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Rating: 4/5
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