Belcea Quartet & Friends;
Ann Murray (mezzo soprano); Simon Keenlyside (baritone); Paul Kildea (conductor)
Wigmore Hall 30 October 2004

Mendelssohn String Quartet in E minor Op. 44 No. 2
Barber Dover Beach Op. 3
Mahler/James Olsen Songs from 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn'

Olsen, who he? There is a big story here, courtesy of Google! (Nothing to introduce James Olsenin the Wigmore Hall programme note by the conductor, Wigmore Hall's new artistic director.)

George Benjamin, composer in residence to the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, was awarded the Schoenberg Prize for his overall achievements as a composer, pianist, conductor and educator. He accepted the obligations associated with this award, but handed the prize money to two composers yet unknown: Martin Suckling and James Olsen*. On January 14 and April 27, 2005 Benjamin will present works from their pens in Berlin; a composer in residence who sees the future very much in terms of practical responsibility.

These deft arrangements for quintets of strings and winds, percussion and harmonium (q.v. Schoenberg's arrangements for chamber ensemble) make these popular Mahler songs available for smaller venues, and they sounded well in Wigmore Hall. Simon Keenlyside especially in fine vocal form for the military songs, having failed to justify the revival of Barber's early song with string quartet (I used to have a recording by Fischer-Dieskau, no less!). Ann Murray was reliable as ever, but her often indistinct diction encouraged even German speakers to follow the words in the programme.

But a whole hour of Des Knaben Wunderhorn songs straight off is too many; it is hard to order them as a cycle and they are best heard in smaller groups. I also wondered whether Kildea (who had earier given the chamber version of Das Lied von der Erde, was inclined to over-milk the sentiment? He seems to be an "adagio conductor" (can anyone give me the source for that?) who brings the music perilously close to stopping but does not 'pay back' his rubato.

Had this been a tiring concert to prepare? The Belcea Quartet, firm Wigmore Hall favourites (q.v. their marvellous lunchtime concert earlier in the month) sounded off-colour in Mendelssohn, responding to the "appassionato, allegro di molto and presto agitato" markings by going for energy at the expense of subtle phrasing. First violins are always the most exposed, and Corina Belcea's tone - as heard from the press seats at the back - was disturbingly strident this evening.

I look forward to George Benjamin introducing to London audiences original works by this young composer, James Olsen, whom he has encouraged in so spectacular a fashion.

This concert can be heard on R3 on 7 November, 2 p.m.

* I find that I reviewed Olsen in 2001" - - the Galliard Ensemble has reaped good rewards from its enterprising annual competition for young composers seeking recognition and performances. No special pleading needed for James OLSEN , a precociously gifted schoolboy with a number of prestigious performances under his belt. His Imbroglio ('a difficult situation between people') put me in mind of Nielsen's quirky Quintet, which portrays the personalities of the original players. - -