Zemlinsky hurls all kinds of challenges at the orchestra in his Sinfonietta, and refuses to settle on a single texture for long. Yet the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, under guest conductor Walter Weller, was well up to the task.
Nobody could have accused the orchestra of being too subtle in the opening Presto. Weller's assured direction ensured that its textural complexity never came across as indecisive. The slow central movement was redolent of Mahler's love music mingled with Pierrot Lunaire, tragically suggesting beauty and eroticism observed yet found to be dissatisfying. The concluding Rondo was compelling.
In the opening Allegro of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, the BBCPO was too strident, making it difficult for soloist Ilya Gringolts to cut through the assertive accompaniment with his 1723 Stradivari. Yet in the Andante, Weller maintained a more careful balance: the blend between Gringolts and the orchestra was wonderful, full of Mozartian longing and melodic shapeliness.
The orchestra displayed wit and charm in the final movement, but the real star was Gringolts: his playing was devoid of gimmicks or heavy-handed virtuosity. The young Russian preferred a pure, relaxed tone - lively, alert and incisive, but also refreshingly tasteful, lyrical and judicious.
Dvorak's Symphony No 5 in F major provided a strong climax to the evening. Weller encouraged the BBCPO to adopt a sonorous and unfussy approach, with heartwarming results. The following Andante, featuring a fine contribution from the lush cello section, was thoughtful without becoming too solemn. The articulate and charismatic Scherzo typified Weller's affectionate direction, and the Finale's initial minor-key angst evolved into a vivacious celebration. Weller paced the performance to perfection, smoothly propelling Dvorak's busy invention forward while remaining sensitive to its intricate details.
The BBCPO showed qualities that audiences are coming to take for granted. Yet they delivered an intelligent interpretation that communicated far more than a mere collection of dots on the page.
