Sydney Symphony Orchestra: High-octane Sibelius

The high-octane, grippingly dramatic and thrillingly energetic account of Sibelius’s second symphony was one of the finest performances by this partnership.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra's chief conductor David Robertson. Picture: Julian Kingma

Conductor David Robertson and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s high-octane, grippingly dramatic and thrillingly energetic account of Sibelius’s second symphony on Friday night was one of the finest performances by this partnership.

Swift tempos and scrupulous dynamic control generated momentum and tension while clearly defined textures and good balances revealed Sibelius’s distinctive orchestration. Robertson’s cohesive, well-thought-out account also demonstrated a deep understanding of the work’s unusual structure while establishing the right atmosphere for each movement.

The SSO’s co-concertmaster Andrew Haveron was an outstanding soloist in Walton’s violin concerto. He fluently dispatched the fiendishly difficult bravura passages, his full-bodied tone and curvaceous phrasing realised the concerto’s soaring melodies and bittersweet lyricism, and his rhythmic acuity celebrated its moments of jazzy syncopation.

In the concert-opening Sun Music II (1969) by Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe, the performers’ vehement attack and rhythmic drive compellingly conveyed its primal savagery and confronting character.