From ethereal nocturnes to bold and fiery symphonies, the ASO dazzles with Fate
Presented by: Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Reviewed: 11 October, 2025
This weekend the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra delivers a feast for the senses with their latest concert, Fate. Across Akimenko, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky, the ASO shows its range in an evening that feels lush, emotional, and explosive.
The night opens with Feodor Akimenko’s Angel: Poem Nocturne, a rarely heard gem. Inspired by a melancholy poem about angels singing in the sky, it unfolds like a dream – sweeping, poetic, and tinged with sadness. The orchestra creates a full yet ethereal sound, creating clouds of melodies that hover above the full audience in the concert hall. It is a quietly powerful opener that inspires poetic yet melancholy daydreams.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major follows, performed with the brilliant Benjamin Grosvenor on the Steinway & Sons concert piano. Grosvenor generously makes time for Adelaide in his busy, globe-trotting schedule. From his first entrance, it is clear we are in the hands of a master. Grosvenor plays with precision and passion – his touch on the keyboard alternating between crisp while developing the complex melodies, and smooth during sweeping ornaments and trills.
Piano Concerto No. 1 dates from early in Beethoven’s career, when he had recently arrived in Vienna. Still influenced by past composers like Mozart and Haydn, he was eager to build a reputation for himself, as both composer and concert pianist. The first movement dances with playful confidence, the second sings with tender introspection, and the finale bursts forth in joyful momentum. Grosvenor gives the orchestra space to breathe, creating a delightful musical conversation between piano and players.
After interval, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 thunders to life. The brass section opens with a harmonious blast – the voice of fate boldly announcing itself. A storm of emotions follows – jealousy, despair, struggles and strife. In the second and third movements, softer melodies offer moments of peace and reflection. The final movement utilises pizzicato scherzo. The string section plucks away as they create a bright, hopeful melody. Tchaikovsky then builds the orchestra back up, before a frenzied and passionate finish – which leaves those sitting in the front rows with ears ringing.
From Akimenko’s calm to Tchaikovsky’s thunderous symphony, this concert captures a full emotional spectrum. The program demands everything from the performers, and the ASO delivers beautifully, creating a cohesive musical tapestry.
Reviewed by Nicola Woolford
Photo credit: supplied
Venue: Adelaide Town Hall
Season: ended
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