The superb Berlin PO & Rattle in Singapore

(Photo: Esplanade Hall, Singapore)

This was my first concert outside Malaysia for sometime and what a better way to see my first concert in Singapore's Esplanade by witnessing the Berlin PO (BPO) and chief conductor Sir Simon Rattle on their second night in Singapore. Their programme comprised of the Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances and Mahler Symphony 1.

Since the heydays of Herbert von Karajan (BPO chief conductor 1955-1989), there has been a move towards enlarging & diversifying the orchestra's repertoire (traditionally Germanic fare) by previous chief conductor Claudio Abbado (1989 to 2002). Present chief Rattle (2002-present) has been enlarging the orchestral canvas by performing diverse Russian fare (like Borodin's Symphony No 2, some Shostakovich symphonies and the first piece in this concert), some Dvorak tone poems as well as some exotic Messiaen & Ravel pieces.

I had been blessed to watch the BPO & Karajan in London twice in the 1980s (Bruckner 5 in the first concert and Beethoven 4 with R Strauss Ein Heldenleben in another) and once in Lucerne (Schoenberg Transfigured Night and Brahms 1) in 1988. What I can say about the BPO is their exalted standards had maintained over the years - even despite their hiring top musicians from all over the world now. Previously, it was an all-male & German dominated orchestra in Karajan's time.

The Rachmaninov was superbly played , with that gorgeous saxophone solo so lovely and haunting in the first movement. The second movement (like a Valse Triste almost) is spooky waltz - played with so many inflections of rubato that the BPO followed Rattle so closely (in a "leech-like" manner). It was always very precise and accurate but moving in the best BPO manner and tradition. The Slavic-coloured finale was extended to breaking point and the riotous ending brought the house down.

One marvelled at the fine degree of control in the opening section with its sustained octave A's (superior to our recent MPO performance under de Burgos), but its journey from the softest pianissimo to the gleam of a bright day had its slightly uneven tempo changes that Rattle & the BPO still have to iron out before committing this symphony to disc for EMI. (The second symphony has just been released on EMI).

The second movement's Landler was suitably heavy and the trio was gorgeously sung by the violin section with delightful glissandos. If there were a minor quibble, the Jewish-like episodes of the third movement’s funeral march could have freer and played with a bit more abandonment.

The anguished finale’s from the depths of despair to a blazing close (a shift to a glorious D major ending) was deliberate and with again some dubious (and lugubrious) tempo changes. But as usual, the superb BPO brass had a field day, with the excellent French horns and trumpets playing their hearts out in the coda. The standing ovation and chorus of bravos that greeted its conclusion was truly lengthy and awesome.