When rain didn't stop play - the BBCSO 2014 Swiss tour

Thursday 1 May 2014, 13:55

Phil Hall

BBC Symphony Orchestra

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BBC SO sub-principal viola Phil Hall reports from the orchestra's tour of Switzerland ...

As the headboard of my bed in Bern's Holiday Inn knocks me awake, (why did my neighbour have to bang his door so early?) I notice that it is STILL raining. This is day three of a potentially scenic and delightful Swiss tour - the first tour with our new(ish) chief conductor Sakari Oramo. But it has barely stopped precipitating since we boarded the flight to Zürich. I can't even make out the Toblerone factory next door!

Sakari Oramo and Anu Komsi

Joining us for four concerts are the Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos and Finnish soprano Anu Komsi, aka Mrs Oramo. She is singing in Mahler's fourth symphony and Leonidas (a popular touring soloist with us) is playing Brahms and Sibelius concertos. He dashes off both of these masterpieces with his customary virtuosity and broad slow movements. He is fond of the orchestra and has many friends here so he is happy to oblige when someone asks him to play the mind-bogglingly difficult Recuerdos de la Alhambra, as an encore. This involves feats of unbelievably nimble bow control and every string player is glued to his bow, trying to work out how on earth he does it.

Anu similarly wows audience and orchestra alike with her glowing but pure voice, conjuring up Mahler's child's view of heaven so beautifully. She is amiable at breakfast too as I try my basic Finnish out on her.

The only piece played in every concert is a contemporary one - Boost by Swiss composer Dieter Amman. He joins us for the performances in Zürich and Bern and seems thrilled with our efforts, hugging the conductor and bowing deeply to the orchestra. The piece fizzes for most of its 15 minutes and puts me in mind of Magnus Lindberg in terms of its energy and harmony.

Viola part for Elgar's Enigma Variations

For the final two concerts in Bern and Geneva we fly the flag for Blighty with Elgar's Enigma Variations. It occurs to me in rehearsal that the orchestral parts we use for this piece are very old; you can still see the imprint of the copper printing plates and even some comments about bowing made by such eminent conductors as Pierre Monteux. Nice to think we still use these original parts.

We toured this piece recently with Sir Andrew Davis but Sakari's take is quite different. He has a unique way of describing the music: 'This passage is like your grandmother dancing... not like electronic music, not Pokemon...'

As we arrive in Montreux finally the clouds lift and our spirits too, and I am afforded this not-too-shabby view of Evian from my hotel room. Word spreads in the final concert in Geneva that we have already been invited back in 2017; let's hope the weather is better.

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