South Korean violinist Sueye Park delivered a poetic and enthralling Proms debut in Sibelius's violin concerto at the Royal Albert Hall, part of a double bill that also featured a stylish Strauss performance and an effervescent late-night set from Jupiter Ensemble.
Park's Commanding Performance
In the early evening programme, John Storgårds kept the BBC Philharmonic light on its feet. Despite the opening wash of strings being barely audible over the air-con, Park quickly grabbed attention with her lean, silvery tone that was penetrating and intensely lyrical. Storgårds seemed to worry unnecessarily, keeping the orchestral volume low for much of the work, but Park imbued the first movement with a forthright romantic sweep and conjured laser-focused, ethereal fireworks in the finale.
Jolas and Strauss Works
Betsy Jolas's Tales of a Summer Sea, composed in 1977 to overcome a childhood fear of the ocean, featured louring gong and timpani threatening a storm with woozy strings and woodwind. At 15 minutes, it took its time but was rarely short of incident with seven busy percussionists.
Richard Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra fit the Albert Hall perfectly. Storgårds delivered a dramatically assured performance, with the mighty rumble of the subterranean organ turbocharging the opening fanfares and burnished strings tugging at the heart in Of the Great Longing. Placing the bell in the gallery was a neat touch for Nietzsche's deep midnight.
Jupiter Ensemble's Idiosyncratic Debut
Founded by lutenist Thomas Dunford, Jupiter Ensemble made a singularly idiosyncratic Proms debut alongside British tenor Laurence Kilsby. The programme featured Dowland, marking 400 years since his death, and Purcell. Kilsby's debonair vocals shone in Come Again, Sweet Love and were at their finest in moving accounts of Flow, My Tears and Sorrow, Stay. Jupiter kicked up their heels in The King of Denmark's Galliard, while Can She Excuse My Wrongs was deftly juxtaposed with its original lute version. The effervescent performances may have strayed from early music orthodoxy, but the spirit was undeniably infectious. Dunford even cajoled the audience into singing Hey Jude.
The Proms continue until 12 September. Available on BBC Sounds until 12 October.
