Some of my family went to see distinguished visitors to Colston Hall – the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek. Josef Špaček was the soloist in two works – Mendelssohn’s violin concerto and that local favourite The Lark Ascending. I wonder whether this piece, so beloved of Classic FM listeners, is much played outside Britain, or whether it had been specially added to the orchestra’s repertoire for this tour. I have more tolerance for it than others in my family (who complain that it goes nowhere), fortunately as I’m singing in another Bristol concert soon in which it’s on the programme.
The heart of the programme however was Dvořák – two Slavonic Dances and the Seventh Symphony (very familiar to me because it was an A level Music set work). My husband reported with some pleasure that the slightly rawer Eastern European brass sound, treasured on our old Supraphon, Hungaroton and Melodiya recordings, is still distinct from that of orchestras elsewhere. And that the playing sounded fresh, despite the dense touring schedule.