Schumann : Cello Concerto (Anssi Karttunen)
Debussy (orch. Caplet) : La Boîte à Joujoux
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Oliver Knussen
Everyone must be away on spring holiday. That's the only rational explanation I have for the miserably poor attendance at this concert, because surely the programme could not be called scary? Not to mention the folly of missing an all-too-rare opportunity to hear that magical and witty concoction, La Boîte à Joujoux
The concert began with something of a curiosity, orchestrations by Oliver Knussen of two Mussorgsky piano pieces. This was not a completely successful attempt, especially when later compared with La Boîte à Joujoux. Caplet’s work on Debussy’s piano score was so remarkable, sounds so authentic, that most of us tend to forget that it’s not actually Debussy’s own orchestration. Knussen’s work did not quite sound like Mussorgsky, and the result was pretty, but inconsequent.
I’m not a big fan of Schumann in general (with one or two exceptions), but it was a pleasure to hear a soloist of the calibre of Anssi Karttunen in the Cello Concerto. He has a lean, firm sound, not prone to exacerbated romanticism, which is just as well in the context. He gave a thoughtful reading, but the orchestra seemed to be a little in retreat, which gave a somewhat subdued impression on the whole. He was persuaded into an encore; I have absolutely no idea what it was, but the skittering, whimsical little piece was a vivid demonstration of just why Karttunen has such a formidable reputation as an interpreter of contemporary music.
Finally, Debussy’s fantastical, enchanting little ballet. The plot is relatively unimportant, what matters is capturing the sparkling whimsy of the score, with its winks and nods to popular tunes, other composers’ works, and Debussy’s own works. Here, the SCO delivered in full, with the occasional touch of ragged ensemble, but all the zest and sense of fun that could be desired.
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