Act III Prelude, Lohengrin - Wagner
Siegfried Idyll - Wagner
Symphony No 1 - Mahler
The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland did well with an ambitious programme at the National Concert Hall on Saturday night. One of the most impressive aspects was the range of instrumental colour and volume, and this was especially welcome in music which called for finesse as well as bravado.
Under the baton of Roberto Benzi, the Prelude to Act III of Wagner's Lohengrin had ebullient rhythmic energy and surefooted orchestral balance. For the same composer's Siegfried Idyll the orchestra was slimmed down to about 40 players - a large group for a work originally conceived for small forces. The many wind solos were well taken and the strings produced some beautifully delicate, even and blended tone. The playing had an intimacy not easily attained in a group this size.
There was plenty of triumphant energy in Mahler's Symphony No. 1, and although the demands of the second and last movements were tackled in swashbuckling style, this was not at the expense of discipline. However, these are the least of that symphony's technical challenges. I was more impressed by the focus and balance achieved in the quieter moments, especially in the third movement and the opening minutes of the first movement. Mahler's subtle colour ing and melodic shaping came across with only a few obvious blemishes, and those did not disturb the clear purpose of the performance.
It was evident that Roberto Benzi had a strong rapport with the players. He tended to emphasise medium-term shaping rather than taking a long aim towards a goal, and in the Siegfried Idyll, in particular, this had a fragmenting effect. Yet he knows how to get the best from the players and how to produce disciplined confidence. This made the partnership rewarding for players and audience.