The Romantic Symphony No 3: The Northern Sinfonia The Sage Gateshead (From The Northern Echo)
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The Romantic Symphony No 3: The Northern Sinfonia The Sage Gateshead
9:36am Wednesday 20th February 2013 in Theatre
By Gavin Engelbrecht
THE third concert in the Romantic series, taking in the symphonies of Brahms and Schumann, reaffirmed the passionate relationship between maestro Thomas Zehetmair and The Northern Sinfonia.
Zehetmair strode to the podium with purpose, barely pausing before launching into a dynamic account of Brahms’ Third Symphony.
The symphony, Brahms’ shortest, is built around the keys F-A-F – frei aber froh, or Free but Happy – and variations on the theme were elucidated brilliantly throughout.
Zehetmair established a lovely ebb and flow with lush string playing under leader Bradley Creswick.
In the ensuing movement, the yearning cello melody had a lovely lilt.
Zehetmair zipped through the allegro, before ending it in a sea of reflective calm.
Schumann’s Third in E Flat, Rhenish, is steeped in the Rhine heartland he so loved.
The opening movement pulsated with energy. The rustic folk melodies of the scherzo were lithe and fresh.
Schumann was inspired by the ceremonial elevation of Cologne Cathedral’s archbishop to include a fifth movement, in advance of the finale. Called Feirlich – solemnly – it contrasts to the rest of the work.
Zehetmair paced the steady progress of its phrases with painstaking care, revealing deep undercurrents, as it flowed to an inexorable finality.
