A review of Sunday’s CSO concert from the Cheltenham\u00a0Echo\/Citizen by Roger Jones\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kenneth Woods revealed a strong empathy for Vaughan Williams’ music in his introduction to the composer’s Fifth Symphony. He followed this up with a convincing performance of this major work which, although composed during World War II, seems to hark back to more placid times.<\/p>\n
The slow movement was a profoundly spiritual experience while the closing passacaglia sounded decidedly upbeat as if confident of better times ahead.<\/p>\n
While some may dispute Mr Wood’s contention that Schumann’s Second is the greatest symphony written since Beethoven, his tense and driven interpretation certainly confirmed it as as a work of stature. Schumann composed it after his first mental breakdown, and the monumental first movement mirrored his titanic struggle to recover his sanity.<\/p>\n
A few rays of hope could be spotted in the bustling Scherzo but a dark mood underpinned it. Nor was there any respite in the Adagio which a strong performance from the string section rendered intensely moving.<\/p>\n
However, in the final movement the shadows disappeared and the sunshine returned. Both orchestra and conductor joined wholeheartedly in the jubilation at the composer’s recovery, with the brass leading the way.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n