Rush Hour Concert: Camille Saint-Saëns - Organ Symphony, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 03 June 2025, 5☆☆☆☆☆. Review by David Gray and Paul Gray.
Rush Hour Concert: Camille Saint-Saëns - Organ Symphony, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 03 June 2025,
5☆☆☆☆☆. Review by David Gray and Paul Gray.
“A powerful performance of this mighty masterpiece.”
CBSO have launched a new-ish, “rush-hour concert” initiative in the laudable aim of getting more “bums-on-seats” of Symphony Hall, and of encouraging people who might not otherwise think of going to a classical concert to try it out.
There is a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The orchestra is casually attired, and the performance is prefaced with a helpful, but in no-way patronising, introduction to the work and to some of the instruments involved. In this case the organ figured largely in the introduction, and organ soloist Sebastian Heindl acted as a personable young guide to some of the ins-and-outs of the Hall’s mighty 6000 pipe behemoth.
During his part in the introduction, conductor, Kazuki Yamada floated the interesting concept that French music has a distinct ‘colour’ and, indeed, ‘perfume’, which performers might try to capture. Certainly, his reading of this magnificent work succeeded in expressing its essentially French character, think classical elegance, panache, turbulent emotional journey, and shameless exuberance.
The Organ Symphony is a clever piece. All of the melodic themes are linked to the main chorale tune of the Finale. Kazuki accentuates these relationships, so that when the final theme is introduced, there is a real feeling of everything being brought together.
The orchestra was on top-form, and, in particular, the strings shone during an exquisite slow movement. The brass clearly had a whale of a time competing with the organ to raise the roof during the towering final movement.
Stirring stuff.
Conductor – Kazuki Yamada Organ – Sebastian Heindl