National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice

Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, City Hall Hull (November 20th 2009)
Hull Daily Mail, November 26th 2009
by Sian Harrison

The music of the Romantic era is known for its sumptuous orchestral textures, rich harmonies and searching melodies as composers pushed the boundaries of classical music as far as they could.
At their concert in Hull City Hall last week, the Polish National Radio Orchestra (PNRO) performed three works which represented the era at its most lavish.
The programme consisted of works by composers in the German, Polish and English musical traditions and demonstrated how they expanded and elaborated upon the forms set down by their classical predecessors.
Edward Elgar’s In the South pays homage to the tone poems of Richard Strauss and brilliantly evokes the Italian countryside which inspired its creation.
The orchestra, under the masterful direction of conductor Jacek Kaspszyk, performed the music with an ease and grace that perfectly captured the subtleties of the work. In particular, a section in which a solo viola plays over a backdrop of shimmering strings, provided a heart-stopping moment and enthralled the audience.
The programme then moved on to Poland and Chopin’s First Piano Concerto, the solo being performed with staggering skill by US pianist Kevin Kenner.
This rarely-performed work seemed to entrance the audience, as Kenner worked his way up and down the keyboard, demonstrating the full dynamic range of the instrument and expressing the emotional range of the work.
For the second half of the concert, the PNRO did what it apparently does best. Brahms First Symphony was brought to life in a masterful performance. The woodwind section in particular played with a beautiful precision that cut through the rich textures in the strings.
For me, the only disappointing thing about the concert was the low turnout. This staggering performance, by an orchestra of the highest calibre, should have been witnessed by a larger audience.