Paavali Jumppanen
Four members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra teamed with Finnish pianist Paavali Jumppanen (a few days after his 40th birthday), for the intimate concert indulgence, Piano Quintets. In doing so, they may have created history’s best looking quintet; they certainly made a play for the best sounding.
Like something from a fashion or film shoot, violinist Satu Vänskä,with her movie star looks, took to the Adelaide Town Hall stage, stylishly accessorising the ACO’s (and Australia’s only) 1728/29 Stradivari violinwith leather leggings, sky-high heels, and a tuxedo jacket. With Jumppanen, Vänskäperformed the outstanding show opener, Witold Lutoslawski’s Subito, with jaw-dropping drama, and a presence that made it impossible to take ones eyes from her. Commissioned two years before Lutoslawski’s death in 1994, the piece provided virtuoso Vänskä with the perfect means by which to perform ten super-charged minutes of excitement, delight, and surprises.
Joining the stage for Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet in G minor, Op.57, Rebecca Chan (violin), Christopher Moore (viola) and Timo-Veikko Valve (cello) also proved to be equally adroit at individually drawing the eye, whilst the quintet expertly achieved exemplary tonal balance. The driving and energizing third movement Scherzo: Allegretto was exceptional, and the forte fortissimos of the fifth movement Finale: Allegretto were brilliantly more powerful than the number of performers on stage.
Christopher Moore was finally given a microphone after eight years (and the interval), and confirmed he could work a sideline in comedy if he tires of being an elite violist. Deliciously adding “mystery” to the other delights of the evening, he revealed the 1610 Giovanni Paolo Maggini viola he has recently started playing, has been loaned to the ACO by an “anonymous benefactor” (cue visions of someone tall, dark, handsome… and loaded). Moore performed the non-programmed Clarinet Sonata Op. 120 no. 2 by Johannes Brahms (sans clarinet) with immense beauty; the final note, although piano, was produced with such clarity and fine timbre as to result in gasps of delight.
The cornucopia of visual and aural luxuries continued with Antonín Dvořák‘s Piano Quintet in A, Op.81. Valve’s first movement cello solo with Jumppanen’s piano accompaniment, marked the stunning calm before the colourful folk storm; the charm and power of the work and the ensemble shining throughout.
The Australian Chamber Orchestra again delivered an outstanding live music experience; intense, engaging, and thoroughly entertaining.
Reviewed by Gordon Forester
Twitter: @GordonForester
Venue: Adelaide Town Hall
Season: 22 July 2014
Duration: 2 hours
Tickets: $45 – $106
Future bookings:Australian Chamber Orchestra
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