BIRMINGHAM
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Birmingham
Town Hall *****
In Birmingham, Mahler’s Second Symphony, the “Resurrection”
has become something of a “Farewell” Symphony. Sir Simon Rattle signed off his
18-year principal conductorship of the CBSO with it in 1998, and now the
much-loved Michael Lloyd has bowed out with the work after 32 years as
principal conductor of the city’s world-class amateur Birmingham Philharmonic
Orchestra.
A packed Town Hall, home to so many of the BPO’s previous
triumphs, had its stage and choir-stalls overflowing with performers, with
Mahler’s huge orchestra and a chorus drawn from countless choral societies
across the breadth of the West Midlands and even as far as Blackpool.
There were two pipe-openers before the main event, with
Bruckner’s Psalm 150 blazing and well-balanced chorally, and Brahms’ “Wie
lieblich sind deine Wohnungen” warm, flowing and well-tuned.
Then came the biggie, Lloyd’s
vast operatic experience making the stormy, shuddering opening of the Symphony
sound very close to Die Walkure (indeed he didn’t underplay the various Wagner
influences further along); the relaxation into the second subject was smoothly
handled, and the conductor’s grip upon the movement’s fluctuating tempi throughout did
its best to banish the music’s undeniable longueurs.
Ensemble throughout this
sprawling, extravagant, megalomaniac work was tight, obviously meticulously rehearsed, the clarity of Lloyd’s
beat securing confident entries and well-sustained chording. Mahler’s perhaps
overdone offstage effects made their full impact as we progressed through the
visionary finale, soprano Alison Roddy and mezzo Emma Roberts fervently adding
to the huge choir’s exhortations, delivered with an impressive dynamic range.
Thus Lloyd laid down his baton
after such a long, mutually rewarding relationship with the BPO, whose standard
of performance he has raised and maintained to the highest level. What a legacy
for his successor.
Christopher Morley