EIF reviews: Classical Jam with Nicola Benedetti | Rising Stars of Voice with Louise Alder
Carol Main reviews two EIF concerts showcasing up-and-coming musical talent
MUSIC
Classical Jam with Nicola Benedetti ★★★★
The Hub
Monday night at The Hub was a lot of different things, but mainly it was a showcase celebration of top, young, up-and-coming instrumentalists making music together with the best possible mentor they could have in doing so.
In a concept devised by EIF director, Nicola Benedetti, the popular Classical Jam brings how it’s all done closer to audiences, she said, creating the feeling of an artists’ ‘after party’. The music wasn’t prepared and rehearsed months, or even weeks, in advance by established ensembles. Rather, the 13 Rising Stars only came together from various parts of the globe just a few days before being on stage.
Their flexible repertoire, partly favourites chosen by audience vote, was far from the usual set in stone. While there may have been the odd rougher moment, the overall sense was of freedom in spontaneity coupled with a deep love of music. Significantly overrunning, an already lengthy two-hour programme without an interval was like a treasure chest of chamber music. Piece after piece was magically produced, the string players alternating in position or as scoring called for, with Benedetti beaming in admiration at their achievements when not playing herself or turning pages for the pianist.
Starting with a gutsy first movement of Elgar’s Serenade for Strings involved everyone, something that didn’t happen again until the end and a brilliantly fun finale of Leroy Anderson’s Plink, Plank, Plunk! In between, smaller groups played movements from the Mendelssohn Octet, Dvořák's American quartet, Tchaikovsky, Philip Glass, Schumann, Beethoven, Rossini, Schubert, Haydn, Brahms. It was a long list but all played with vitality, passion and joie de vivre. Less familiar was American composer Jessie Montgomery whose Strum was a punchy blend of jazz, bluegrass and folk. Carol Main
MUSIC
Rising Stars of Voice with Louise Alder ★★★★
Queen’s Hall
Designed to support next generation musicians, the EIF’s Rising Stars for singers is a unique chance for audiences to talent spot who’s coming up from the inside track of the industry, as well as giving young singers exceptional mentoring and performing experience.
From Tuesday morning’s presentation of what the eight singers had been working on with mentors Louise Alder, soprano, and James Baillieu, pianist, there is clearly no shortage of impressive talent in the pipeline. With a first half parade of solo songs from the 19th and 20th centuries, Scottish soprano Katie Carmichael stood out as one to watch, her easy lightness in Strauss’s Serenade in contrast to some of the others’ tendency to over-sing in earnest determination to do their best.
Performing as an ensemble for Brahms’s Neue Liebeslieder a less is more approach would have brought more sensitivity to blending as a group, although the combined richness of tone suited the music’s warm colours, with Louise Alder soaring effortlessly in her solo lines. Special mention must go to pianist Francesca Lauri who was so much more than an accompanist, but rather a collaborative partner who unfussily got on with whatever was put in front of her. Carol Main
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