Enchanting, energetic, and ethereal, the BBC’s Philharmonic’s Daphnis and Chloé surpassed all my expectations.
Arriving at The Bridgewater Hall having never seen the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra before and only knowing its reputation as one of the most revered ensembles in the world, I felt a bit apprehensive and unsure of what to expect. However, this celebration of Pierre Boulez and Maurice Ravel turned out to be an incredibly beautiful, accessible and gratifying evening.
The evening began with Pierre Boulez’s Rituel – in memoriam Bruno Maderna. Whilst this was my least favourite piece of the night, it immediately showcased the musicians’ talent, the originality in their use of instruments, and Mark Wigglesworth’s exceptional ability as a conductor. This was the only piece where I think having prior knowledge or referring to the informative program was crucial to fully appreciating the music. Boulez’s Rituel was inspired by Asian funeral dirges, and the music beautifully captured a sense of mourning and melancholy. The reiteration of the seven-note theme created recurring patterns that, upon further research, were intended to transcend the boundaries between ‘death and survival’ and the ‘present and the absent.’ However, without this context, the piece occasionally felt overly slow and stagnant, particularly given its length.
However, the energy immediately heightened after the interval as the audience were seduced into the enchanting musical world of Maurice Ravel. My favourite piece of the evening was Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, featuring the internationally acclaimed pianist Bertrand Chamayou, whose agility and skill were completely captivating. This was an incredibly demanding composition showcasing a huge range of sounds very quickly, particularly from Chamayou on the piano and the woodwind and brass players. This resulted in a cheeky, sultry, energetic and above all, unbelievably beautiful piece. With its playful shifts from circus-like sounds to jazz-infused notes, the concerto kept both me and the rest of the audience transfixed.
As the evening progressed, my ear became more attuned to the subtleties within the music, drawing me deeper into the collective, almost otherworldly experience the orchestra created for everyone in the room. A particular highlight of the second half was the titular score of Daphnis and Chloé. Originally commissioned as a ballet score for a Greek romance, the piece was equal parts joyous and ethereal, romantic and dreamy without losing any of its power and I was disappointed when it came to an end.
Ultimately, my first experience watching the BBC Philharmonic was an inspiring one. I entered the evening knowing little about orchestral music and left with a newfound appreciation for the orchestra, Pierre Boulez, and Maurice Ravel. I will undoubtably be returning to The Bridgewater Hall and the BBC Philharmonic again soon.