Peter Moore's trombone adventures took a fascinating turn as he navigated Dai Fujikura's sonic ocean in the UK premiere of the composer's reworked Vast Ocean II at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The evening began by setting sail on a sci-fi journey inspired by Stanisław Lem's Solaris, with the orchestra acting as an otherworldly sea and Moore's trombone serving as a human vessel navigating uncharted territories.
Moore brought a level of advocacy to his playing that has contributed significantly to his growing concerto repertoire, and it was on full display here. Fujikura's score is characterized by a pointillist canvas of glinting sounds and textures that rarely coalesce into a traditional narrative arc, instead favoring a more ambient, evocative approach. Moore's trombone responded beautifully to this sonic tapestry, coaxing out shifting colors from the repeated notes and conjuring vocal sighs and howls with precision.
The concert took an unexpected turn after the interval, as Yamada and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra shifted gears to tackle Mahler's iconic Symphony No 1. The work's earthy, almost primal energy was perfectly suited to Yamada's instinctive musicianship, which imbued the symphony with a sense of urgency and vitality.
However, in the third movement's minor-key take on Frère Jacques, some musical missteps detracted from the overall impact. A sense of sleazy horror lurked beneath the surface, but it never quite coalesced into the bleak nullity that Mahler's music so often conveys. The symphony was, instead, a masterclass in contrasts – life-affirming and overflowing, yet also capable of conjuring a sense of unease.
Despite these minor quibbles, Yamada and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra delivered a thrilling performance that left this critic wondering about Fujikura's sonic oceans – do they add up to more than just a series of gorgeous sonic episodes? Only time will tell.
Moore brought a level of advocacy to his playing that has contributed significantly to his growing concerto repertoire, and it was on full display here. Fujikura's score is characterized by a pointillist canvas of glinting sounds and textures that rarely coalesce into a traditional narrative arc, instead favoring a more ambient, evocative approach. Moore's trombone responded beautifully to this sonic tapestry, coaxing out shifting colors from the repeated notes and conjuring vocal sighs and howls with precision.
The concert took an unexpected turn after the interval, as Yamada and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra shifted gears to tackle Mahler's iconic Symphony No 1. The work's earthy, almost primal energy was perfectly suited to Yamada's instinctive musicianship, which imbued the symphony with a sense of urgency and vitality.
However, in the third movement's minor-key take on Frère Jacques, some musical missteps detracted from the overall impact. A sense of sleazy horror lurked beneath the surface, but it never quite coalesced into the bleak nullity that Mahler's music so often conveys. The symphony was, instead, a masterclass in contrasts – life-affirming and overflowing, yet also capable of conjuring a sense of unease.
Despite these minor quibbles, Yamada and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra delivered a thrilling performance that left this critic wondering about Fujikura's sonic oceans – do they add up to more than just a series of gorgeous sonic episodes? Only time will tell.
! I mean, Frère Jacques in minor-key is a bold move, but it worked surprisingly well... until the sleazy horror vibes crept in. I love how Fujikura's Vast Ocean II is all about atmosphere and texture - Moore's trombone was like a conduit to another dimension 
. But what really got me thinking was the performance itself: Yamada and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra were like two ships navigating through uncharted sonic waters... do they chart new territory with Fujikura's music? Only time will tell, but I'm excited to find out 
! Peter Moore's trombone playing was absolutely on point, he brought this sci-fi vibe to life in such a cool way 
. But what really stood out for me was how Yamada and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra managed to balance those 'beautiful sonic episodes' with some genuinely unsettling moments - it was like Mahler's Symphony No 1 just took a dark turn 
. I'm still not entirely convinced about whether Fujikura's oceans add up to more than just stunning soundscapes, but whatever it is, I want more! 
. The way he navigated all those tiny sounds and textures, it was like he was reading the composer's mind 
! And I loved how Yamada and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra jumped into Mahler's Symphony No 1 after the interval - that first movement was just electric 
! But yeah, there were some parts in Frère Jacques that felt a bit off... like they were trying to be something they're not 
. Still, overall it was an amazing night out and I'm eager to hear more of Dai Fujikura's music in the future 
. AND MAN, YAMADA AND THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA KILLED IT IN MAHLER'S SYMPHONY NO 1! I FELT LIKE I WAS RIGHT THERE WITH THEM, FEELING ALL THE URGENCY AND VITALITY 
I mean, he really brought the house down with that Dai Fujikura piece - it was like his trombone was swimming in a sea of sound 
. But yeah, that third movement was kinda meh... felt like it was trying too hard to be edgy 
. Still, overall, what a fab concert! Fingers crossed Fujikura's sonic oceans will make a splash 
dai fujiwara's music is like nothin i've ever heard b4 - it's like tryin to grasp a handful of sand, u get close but it slips thru ur fingers 
& mahler's symphony was pure magic 
can't wait 2 c what else dis talented group has in store 4 us!
The sci-fi vibes are EVERYTHING and his trombone is like, totally the human vessel navigating these otherworldly seas 
But minor quibbles here and there... like what's up with Frère Jacques in the 3rd movement tho? 
Can't wait to see more from Fujikura & Moore, fingers crossed for a more cohesive sonic ocean next time 
. Peter Moore's trombone playing was sublime though 
. And don't even get me started on Mahler's Symphony No 1 - Yamada and the orchestra totally killed it in the first two movements 
OMG I'm still reeling from that concert!!! Peter Moore is literally the trombone superhero 
and Yamada is a genius conductor 
. Dai Fujikura's Vast Ocean II is like nothing I've ever heard before - it's like being on a sonic journey through outer space 
. Can't wait to hear more from both Moore and Fujikura! 
. And don't even get me started on the trombone solo, I felt like I was transported to a whole different world 
... sorry, what were we talking about again? 