Yorkshire Post Newspapers Ltd. 14.11.2003
Polish National RSO Hull
The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Hull City Hall Paul D Harrison
TWO ebulliently-played national anthems immediately announced the credentials of this orchestra. If you think that a Polish orchestra cannot play French music idiomatically, forget it. It took only (he opening bars of the Pastorale from Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suite No 2 to conjure up the sun-drenched regions of the Mediterranean.
The playing of the woodwind, so essential in these pieces, was an object lesson in itself but the flautist completely disarmed criticism by the limpidity of her performance.
Soloist Marat Bisengaliev has been making a name for himself in the concert hall and on record and deservedly so. His performance of the Max Bruch First Violin Concerto was splendidly well tuned in the centre of each note, beautifully phrased and with much evidence of light and shade.
It was also keenly integrated into the orchestral fabric, so that therewas never any suggestion of virtuosity for its own sake. An initial hesitancy on the orchestra's part was dispelled when they reached the first tutti.
The magic continued with the diaphanous textures of Ravel's Rapsodie Espagnole.
The strings displayed remarkable control of dynamic shading as well as dove-tailing other special effects into the overall framework of the piece.
Credit must also go to conductor Antoni Wit, whose economy of gesture produced such a rich kaleidoscope of colour in the final item the Daphnis and Chloe Suite No 2. The team can be heard again in Sheffield City Hall on March 18.
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