FIRST MONUMENT
Review of October 2025 Concert
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‘First Monument’, SMCO’s final Subscription Concert of 2025, was conducted by Michael Joel, the orchestra’s Musical Director. This was a first-rate performance, which presented music from three centuries – Brahms’ Symphony No 1, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Five Variants on ‘Dives and Lazarus’ and Louise Webster’s Viola Concerto ‘I step into the Sky.’
Vaughan Williams used folk music in many of his compositions and ‘Dives and Lazarus’ probably dates back to the medieval period. It is scored for strings and harp. The lush string tone and modal harmonies were beautiful, and the variation in tempi and volume were well executed. The wonderful acoustics of the church added greatly to the atmosphere. Played with sensitivity, the variations were warmly received. The Concertmaster Hilary Phillips, first cellist Yotam Levy and harpist Jade Lyles who played solo passages were acknowledged with special appreciation.
The orchestra has previously commissioned Louise Webster to compose works for performance. On this occasion it was a new concerto for viola, ‘I step into the Sky’, for Gillian Ansell to perform. Gillian Ansell is a NZ-born violist who left NZ for further training and experience in Britain and Europe before returning in 1987 to NZ to become a founding member of the NZ String Quartet in which she still performs. She is universally regarded as one of NZ’s finest musicians. Webster, a regular member of the Second Violin section of SMCO, and one of NZ’s most well-regarded composers, made a conscious decision to allow the viola to soar above the orchestra, never being overwhelmed. Both soloist and orchestra achieved this beautifully. The concerto’s name refers to clouds skittering and swirling in the sky. Especially memorable were contributions from woodwinds who sounded like floating birds, brass and timpani. Ansell’s command of her instrument and her magnificent technical ability were magical. The concerto ended with the final rising arpeggio theme and warm timbre of her viola, a 1619 Nicolo Amati instrument. A work of many challenges accomplished with skill and aplomb by Ansell and orchestra.
Brahms’ Symphony No.1 in C minor op.68 is a monumental work, begun in 1855 and not performed until 1876 after numerous alterations. The first movement opened with a forceful introduction including intense pulsating timpani, followed by woodwinds and pizzicato strings playing phrases to be developed in the following exposition. In the second movement, Andante sostenuto, horns and oboes, and violin solo were particularly effective – lyricism and floating expression. The lighter mood of the third movement with its clarinet opening was most effectively played by flutes, brass and strings. The final movement sees the appearance of three trombones and a reverent chorale played with solemnity and serenity by the strings. All sections of the orchestra had heavy workloads which they executed with skill and feeling. The symphony ended with two triumphant plagal cadences, from horns and trombones, and was met with thoroughly genuine appreciation from the enthusiastic audience. Congratulations to conductor, section leaders and rank-and-file players. This was a really successful concert to finish a year of brilliant music making.
Review by Rogan Falla