A recent performance by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, led by chief conductor Ryan Bancroft, left a lasting impression with its intriguing connections between seemingly disparate pieces. At the center of this endeavor was Swedish composer Anders Hillborg's "Exquisite Corpse," an exploration of surrealist art principles in musical form.
Hillborg's composition is akin to a game of Consequences, where multiple artists contribute to a single work without prior knowledge of their counterparts' contributions. This approach yielded a piece that, while bearing the consciously singular imprint of its creator, also incorporated references to a diverse range of composers, including Stravinsky and Ligeti.
The performance brought these layers of sound to vibrant life, with Hillborg's mastery of instrumental color on full display. The orchestra's ability to seamlessly transition between delicate harmonies and monstrous bass registers was nothing short of remarkable.
A striking connection can be found in Sibelius' "Lemminkäinen Suite Op 22," which shares a darkly surreal tone with the second piece, "The Swan of Tuonela." In this work, the shamanic hero Lemminkäinen is killed and dismembered before being restored to life by his mother. This poignant narrative thread was woven into the score with Bancroft's sensitive hand, striking a balance between dramatic narrative and elemental music.
Gerhardt, the soloist for Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No 2, brought a mesmerizing quality to the performance, imbuing the music with its melancholy beauty rather than its tragic undertones. A particularly heartwarming moment came when Gerhardt joined the cello section to play in Sibelius' suite, a testament to the joy that can be found in exploring unexpected connections.
Throughout the evening, Hillborg's composition stood as a testament to the power of collaboration and experimentation in music. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, under Bancroft's guidance, proved themselves to be capable of navigating even the most complex and intriguing musical landscapes with ease.
Hillborg's composition is akin to a game of Consequences, where multiple artists contribute to a single work without prior knowledge of their counterparts' contributions. This approach yielded a piece that, while bearing the consciously singular imprint of its creator, also incorporated references to a diverse range of composers, including Stravinsky and Ligeti.
The performance brought these layers of sound to vibrant life, with Hillborg's mastery of instrumental color on full display. The orchestra's ability to seamlessly transition between delicate harmonies and monstrous bass registers was nothing short of remarkable.
A striking connection can be found in Sibelius' "Lemminkäinen Suite Op 22," which shares a darkly surreal tone with the second piece, "The Swan of Tuonela." In this work, the shamanic hero Lemminkäinen is killed and dismembered before being restored to life by his mother. This poignant narrative thread was woven into the score with Bancroft's sensitive hand, striking a balance between dramatic narrative and elemental music.
Gerhardt, the soloist for Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No 2, brought a mesmerizing quality to the performance, imbuing the music with its melancholy beauty rather than its tragic undertones. A particularly heartwarming moment came when Gerhardt joined the cello section to play in Sibelius' suite, a testament to the joy that can be found in exploring unexpected connections.
Throughout the evening, Hillborg's composition stood as a testament to the power of collaboration and experimentation in music. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, under Bancroft's guidance, proved themselves to be capable of navigating even the most complex and intriguing musical landscapes with ease.
. I mean, sure, his "Exquisite Corpse" piece was interesting, but it just felt like a bunch of artists throwing stuff at the wall and hoping some of it stuck 
. And don't even get me started on the whole game of Consequences thing – sounds like a recipe for disaster to me 
.
. Don't get me wrong, Ryan Bancroft and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales are talented, but I think I'll stick to my vinyl records – at least those don't need all these fancy production tricks 
.
and i'm still buzzing from it! Anders Hillborg's "Exquisite Corpse" is a genius move - who wouldn't want to collaborate with multiple artists without knowing what the others are gonna bring? 
. the connections between those Sibelius pieces were incredible too - i loved how they wove together narrative and music like that's just what it's supposed to do 
sibelius' suite is defo one of my faves n i love how gerhardt's solo in shostakovich's concerto added this whole other layer of sadness 
Anders Hillborg's "Exquisite Corpse" piece is like a musical puzzle that you're trying to figure out as you listen - and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales absolutely nailed it! 
Mind blown! It's amazing how music can evoke emotions and create this sense of storytelling, you know? 
The only thing I'd change is maybe a bit more contrast in the tempo - it felt like some bits just dragged on a tad. But overall, what a fantastic performance by the orchestra and Hillborg! 
I was blown away by this performance! Anders Hillborg's "Exquisite Corpse" is like nothing I've ever heard before - it's like a musical game of telephone, but instead of bad jokes, you get this incredible weave of different styles and influences. And the way it all came together under Bancroft's baton was pure magic 
. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is definitely on my radar now - I need to check out more of their stuff! 
. the way the orchestra transitioned between delicate harmonies and deep bass notes was insane 
. anyway, that concert left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside 
Anders Hillborg's "Exquisite Corpse" is like a whole new level of music collaboration - I mean, can you imagine how crazy it must've been to work on something without knowing what the others were gonna bring? It's like a big ol' musical puzzle, and they nailed it! 
. The way the cello section joined him for that Sibelius piece? Mind blown 
.
. Maybe I'm just a platform critic at heart, but I need more of this kind of experimentation and risk-taking 
. Can we get more weird and wonderful in classical music? 
, and the way ryan bancroft conducted them was pure magic 
. loved how they brought together these disparate styles and made it work, totally mind blown 
. anyway, can't wait to see what the orchestra comes up with next! 
i felt like crying. and then they played sibelius' lemminkäinen suite which is basically a dark fantasy story 
who writes this stuff? i need to look up more swedish composers ASAP 
I'm totally blown away by that BBC performance 
... and it all comes together in this amazing, surreal soundscapes 
where everyone is sharing their own story.
... and that moment when he joined the cello section to play in Sibelius' suite? 
The way Bancroft brought the narrative thread from Lemminkäinen to life was so powerful, it gave me chills 
And Gerhardt's cello playing in Sibelius' suite was just sublime 
And can we talk about Gerhardt's performance in Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No 2?