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Reviews
The Courier Mail, Brisbane, Australia
Ben-Dor inspirational in Australian debut
Claran McKeown
February 22, 1993
Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra had a dream run through
its first performance under the wing of Queensland Performing
Arts Trust with opened its 1997 Singapore Airlines International
Series at Brisbane Concert Hall.
It could hardly have been otherwise with the dynamic
direction of guest conductor Gisèle Ben-Dor, who was
making her Australian debut, and the return visit of
British cellist Raphael Wallfisch.
Ben-Dor was everything she promised to be — intelligent,
totally committed, thoroughly inspiring and immersed
in her music.
Gender certainly was not part of her musical equation.
She simply got right inside the music and swept the
musicians along in her confident stride.
She used no score for Dances of Galanta (Kodaly)
and Symphony No. 7 in A (Beethoven) such is her
command of the material.
It left her free to keep direct contact with the players
and drive the music every inch of the way.
She gives both rhythmic strength and restrained sensitivity
using her left hand to shape the music as the baton
in the right makes pointed attack.
The Philharmonic is a diligent orchestra.
Every player responded keenly to her lead. They also
seemed inspired by the lyrical mastery of cellist Wallfisch
drawing all the musical color of Rondo for Cello
and Orchestra (Dvorak) and Variations on a Rococo
Theme (Tchaikovsky), two plums of the cello repertoire.
Wallfisch has such control over his instrument that
technique completely gives way to his exuberance and
communication of every fine detail.
His elegant sound is perfectly even throughout the
instrument's wide range and the expressive extremes
of his work were matched by supremely sensitive solo
spots from new QPO principal clarinet Nicholas Murphy.
Concertmaster Warwick Adeney also was alert to his
fine phrasing.
Ben-Dor gave over the Beethoven to its driving rhythmic
force.
She set a relentless pace through its four movements
in a performance that was as overwhelming in its power
and conviction as the symphony is in its structure.
QPO manager Chris Farrell is to be commended for his
persistence in bringer her to Australia.
May we have her back please — soon?
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