Barnstorming Montero, musical Angelico

25 April 2015 brought very fine debutants to the DFP in the shape of pianist Gabriela Montero and conductor Francesco Angelico. The programme of Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto and Brahms' Symphony No 4 provided the unashamed core familiarity and obviously displayed the excellent musicality of both these two fine musicians. The opening of the Tchaikovsky was broad, grand and singing for its famous opening fanfare. What was also obviously fine about the interpretation that Montero and Angelico forged for us was the concern for structure. The often-diffuse musical structure was coherent in terms of tempo and mood. Montero produced such a massive range of nuances as well as a full-bodied rich round tone in all dynamics that any mishits that she made were forgiven in the passion of her playing. The DFP's usual Steinway grand piano never had such a good workout since Arcadi Volodos' piano recital about 10 years ago. The second movement was delicate in its opening section, with some fine solo contributions from flautist Hristo Dobrinov, oboist Simon Emes and cellist Csaba Koros. Montero dazzled in the central Prestissimo section, with amply full tone despite very fluid playing at high speeds.

The last movement brought high jinks from Montero in its initial Cossack-like dance tune, with Angelico providing much needed give and take in the tempi adopted to maximize the mounting excitement of the massive double octave passages before a coruscating run to a grandly triumphant conclusion. After numerous curtain calls following the Tchaikovsky, Montero gave a rare treat in the form of improvisations on tunes suggested by the audience (Getaran Jiwa and A Spoonful of Sugar (from Mary Poppins)) as well as the third on a theme of her own in honour of political prisoners in Venezuela and the rest of the world.

After the interval, we often get a lacklustre orchestral performance but this was not the case this night. Angelico directed a fantastic performance of Brahms' Fourth Symphony. Angelico magically crafted the right sort of dreamy and melancholic mood for the opening movement. The MPO responded with fine rhythmic and Romantic playing. The second movement was ideally paced for its songful and autumnal lyricism. The scherzo third movement was duly festive in Angelico's interpretation, whilst the final Passacaglia movement was cogently played.

In view of the excellent performances by both Montero and Angelico, I sincerely hope that the DFP management would offer them future musical engagements at the DFP hall. Montero has now become a fully developed artist, but maestro Angelico looks to forge ahead in his rising career as a excellent conductor.