Review: Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Robin Ticciati is in his fifth season as principal conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Robin Ticciati is in his fifth season as principal conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. He is committed to the chamber until 2018, which suggests a happy meeting of artistic minds.
Indeed, there wasn't a single bar in this Hong Kong Arts Festival concert where they weren't on the same page.
Interpretations had clearly been meticulously planned and were executed with equal precision; but one never felt that the performance was just going through the motions - an understandable temptation for jaded players on international tours.
Mendelssohn's overture , a reminiscence of the composer's seafaring off the coast of Scotland, started magically by quietly appearing out of nowhere. Its final notes were sailing equally effectively over the horizon until a foghorn from the "bravo!" brigade completely ruined the atmosphere.
The piece is a routine opener for any orchestra, but Ticciati was riveting in his fresh perspective on its twists and turns. Meanwhile, the strings' steely timbre, aptly suggestive of grey northern waters, gave early notice that less vibrato meant more scope for variety in colour.
