The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), conducted by its chief conductor Kazuki Yamada, captivated audiences at the Royal Albert Hall with a distinctive Proms programme. Yamada's innovative pairing of Francis Poulenc's characteristically witty compositions with John Adams' substantial minimalist work, Harmonium, proved to be a critical success, offering both stylistic elegance and thrilling intensity.
The concert commenced with Poulenc's Sinfonietta, a piece that showcases the composer's unique ability to infuse formal structures with playful, often irreverent, melodies and textures. Yamada's interpretation was noted for its clarity and sophistication, highlighting the work's intricate details and underlying humour. This provided a refined prelude to the more boisterous second Poulenc offering.
The highlight of the first half was Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos, featuring the dynamic Dutch duo, Lucas and Arthur Jussen. Making their Proms debut, the brothers brought an infectious energy to the stage, tackling the concerto with remarkable synchronicity and rhythmic drive. Their performance was described as immensely stylish and fun, perfectly capturing the satirical essence of Poulenc's work, which playfully critiques modernist musical trends.
Following the interval, the programme shifted to the grand scale of John Adams' 1980 composition, Harmonium. This pivotal work in American minimalism explores themes of love, death, and desire through its intricate choral and orchestral textures. For this monumental piece, the CBSO Chorus was significantly enhanced by the addition of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, creating the expansive sonic canvas required for Adams' vision. The combined choirs delivered a powerful performance, particularly in movements like 'Negative Love' and 'Wild Nights', where voices were treated as pulsing points of light and an explosive, ululating jangle, respectively.
While the central movement, 'Because I could not stop for Death', was noted as a slight sticking point, lacking some of the anticipated intensity, the overall rendition of Harmonium was hailed as a monumental achievement. The bold programming choice by Yamada and the CBSO demonstrated a compelling synergy between two seemingly disparate musical worlds, delivering a memorable Proms experience that resonated with both wit and profound emotional depth. The concert showcased the CBSO's versatility and its continued standing as a leading UK orchestra.