The RSNO delights, bringing Vienna to life through a fresh technological theme.
The RSNO believe that music can enrich lives and once again brought their Viennese Gala tour to The Beacon, delighting audiences with a fresh new theme. This year’s programme, centred on technological advancement and discovery, proved both imaginative and entertaining.
Each piece was carefully selected to reflect changing technological landscapes, from the advent of steam trains to the invention of the television by John Logie Baird. While conductor Derrick Morgan acknowledged that some featured composers were not alive at the time of these innovations, the musical choices remained thoughtful, cohesive and beautifully performed.
The gala paid homage to composers including Johann Strauss II, Rudolf Sieczyński and Carl Michael Ziehrer. The transition from Strauss II’s Electromagnetic Polka, written for an 1852 engineering students’ ball at the Vienna University of Technology, to Ziehrer’s Onwards! Into the 20th Century March, composed for the Concordia Ball in 1900, captured the spirit of the evening perfectly. The theme was further reinforced by Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Mattinata (Morning), the first piece written specifically for the Gramophone Company, later known as EMI. This also marked our introduction to presenter Jamie MacDougall’s rich tenor voice, which immediately brought a sense of calm and warmth to the hall.
The programme extended beyond Vienna, Italy and Denmark, with Scottish influences woven throughout. Malcolm Arnold’s Four Scottish Dances opened the second half and was executed with precision and flair by the RSNO. A selection of Scottish songs followed, all performed by MacDougall. Sleeps the Noon in the Deep Blue Sky stood out for its elegance and emotional depth, but it was his final number, Song of the Clyde, that resonated most strongly with the Greenock audience. As a local, I appreciated MacDougall’s clear affection for this piece and it made it a fitting and heartfelt conclusion.
A certain level of excellence is expected from a live orchestra, but such standards are never achieved without dedication and skill. In tackling works such as Strauss II’s By the Beautiful Blue Danube, the RSNO rose confidently to the challenge. Their closing performance of Johann Strauss I’s Radetzky March was equally assured, bringing the evening to a triumphant close.
Overall, the concert was a resounding success and a masterclass in orchestral performance. With a full calendar of engagements throughout the year and consistently high standards, the RSNO remain an ensemble not to be missed, whether at the Viennese Gala or beyond.