News and Reviews

Review: Sinfonia Viva with Johannes Hinterholzer, horn
Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham - Thursday 14th April 2011

Fans of Sinfonia Viva's bounce and brio in the classical repertoire will surely have relished the prospect of Thursday evening's France v. Germany programme. The wit and elegance of Mozart combined with the pastel subtlety of Fauré and Ravel and the romantic lushness of Brahms brought out the qualities for which Sinfonia Viva is justly famed: rhythmic energy, crystalline transparency and close attention to small but telling details.

Conductor André de Ridder imparted to Fauré's Masques et Bergamasques both tenderness and a sense of nostalgia, as if the music were looking back to an age now irretrievably lost. Much the same could be said about Ravel's Pavane, the effect one of sunlight shining through painted glass.

Johannes Hinterhölzer was the soloist in Mozart's 4th Horn Concerto, at one with the orchestra in his concern for buoyantly sprung rhythms and sense of fun.

Brahms' 3rd Symphony shared the vitality which is one of Sinfonia Viva's hallmarks. The four movements were held together with an unmistakable sense of purpose, the work's destination being heralded in the launch of the upwardly thrusting opening bars. As well as ensemble warmth and richness there was much distinguished solo playing in this compelling performance.

Review by William Ruff for Nottingham Post.