Australian Youth Orchestra
AYO ‘Striking and Beautiful’ Concert Review
AYO Blog
AYO ‘Striking and Beautiful’ Concert Review
By Sophia Mackson
Program:
John Adams – The Chairman Dances
Elena Kats-Chernin – Fantasie im Wintergarten
Richard Strauss – Ein Heldenleben
The Australian Youth Orchestra’s Summer Season concert is held in Meanjin/Brisbane City Hall on Sunday, the 16th of February 2025. The audience is packed with families of the musicians in the orchestra, friends, and supporters. Today we hear The Chairman Dances by John Adams, Fantasie im Wintergarten by Elena Kats-Chernin, and Ein Heldenleben by Richard Strauss.
The first work is The Chairman Dances by John Adams. Conductor Kerem Hasan leaps onto the podium and begins the work with ease and flair. The AYO showcase their mastery at creating a collective sound that has potent energy. Kerem and the orchestra make the piece (known by musicians for its difficult rhythms and timing) blithely convincing. The light and dark of contrasting colours the conductor and orchestra portray are a superb start to the concert. The audience is captivated, ready for the next piece.
The next work is Fantasie im Wintergarten by Elena Kats-Chernin, with internationally acclaimed violin soloist Emily Sun taking the stage. As the tangoesque momentum of the work begins, Emily stuns with beautifully punchy, yet controlled, playing. She, at all times, remains faithful to the composition and creates the perfect atmosphere for the work alongside the orchestra and conductor. She interjects playfully with the orchestra, working with them at every turn.
When we reach the haunting second movement, the nuance and detail created by Sun in each change of bow are bewitching. There is no note left unphrased in this performance, equally by the orchestra, conductor, and soloist. A welcomed encore of Eliza Aria is performed by Sun and the front desks of the string sections. This celebration of the iconic Elena Kats-Chernin is met with a roaring applause from the audience.
After the interval, Ein Heldenleben by Richard Strauss is the concert’s mighty but final work. The symphony’s opening is brilliantly performed by the cellos, violas, double basses, and horns with great triumph. As the AYO launches into the work, we are treated to many moments of dynamism and colour—it is spellbinding, and you cannot take your eyes off the orchestra and conductor. Special mention goes to Robert Smith, who performs the solo violin part (almost a concerto in itself) with such divine conviction and control, it is remarkable to witness.
Reflective and triumphant all in one, each moment of this work is portrayed so passionately by the orchestra and conductor Kerem Hasan. As the work draws to a close, the audience is once again left stunned and spellbound. The AYO are met with such love and appreciation from the audience for their performance—what an honour it is to witness such a concert!