26.11.16

At Christ Church Chelmsford

By Michael Gray

Back to back piano concertos, with Chelmsford-born Alisdair Hogarth as soloist with the ESO under Tom Hammond.

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue top of the bill. Then Shostakovich's Second Piano Concerto – a repertoire favourite, and recorded by three generations of the Shostakovich clan – was given a similarly bold reading; the sublime slow movement, with its rich string tone and eloquent piano phrasing, was superbly done.

Ten years now since Malcolm Arnold left us. And this enterprising programme opened with A Flourish For Orchestra before the Third Symphony of 1957 – the same year as the Shostakovich. A much darker piece, impressively played by the ESO, led by Philippa Barton, with sweeping, brooding strings, ominous tympani rhythms, and fleeting solos from oboe, clarinet, piccolo and of course Arnold's own instrument, the trumpet.