Newbury festivalgoers thrilled by Romanian cellist’s virtuosity

Andrei Ionita and the London Philharmonic Orchestra

at St Nicolas’ Church, Newbury on Saturday, May 18

Review by HELEN BOMGARDNER

AT Saturday’s Newbury Spring Festival concert, we were delighted to welcome Romanian cellist Andrei Ionita Gold Medal winner at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Bloxham.

The programme began with an outstanding performance of Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104.

The orchestra set the scene to the first movement, Allegro, with a glorious exposition. The horn solo was beautifully played.

Captivating from the start, Ionita’s passionate performance was superb; powerful and dramatic with contrasting passages of deeply expressive lyricism.

He delighted us with his virtuosity – his awesome ‘flight’ up the scale in octaves was thrilling. Particularly memorable for me was the cello’s spellbinding ‘aria’, against a background of hushed tremolo strings and sparkling flute countermelody.

A highlight of the wistful Adagio was the glorious interplay between the cello and woodwind.

Dvorak included his song Leave me alone, in this movement, as a tribute to his beloved sister-in-law, Josefina, who was dying. Playing with wonderful warmth, Ionita gave an intensely passionate and expressive rendition, tender, poignant and full of yearning.

The ebullient marching theme in the Finale was full of vigour and vitality. Ionita treated us to a splendid performance, contrasting exciting drama with interludes of reflective nostalgia.

The heartfelt ‘love’ duet, performed with leader Vesselin Gellev, was so passionate. In the extended coda, an elegy for Josefina, I was, at times, considerably moved by the cello, ‘sighing’ in aching sorrow.

Finally, a dramatic orchestral ending brought a magnificent performance to a close. The audience could hardly wait to applaud with many shouting ‘Bravo!’.

Bloxham was inspirational in his conducting of Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61.

The opening motif, proclaimed by a brass fanfare, was solemn and dignified. The Allegro ma non troppo, passionate, dramatic and performed with rhythmic energy, expressed a ‘torrent’ of intense emotion.

A fiery Scherzo, brimming with energy and zest, highlighted the virtuosity of the first violins. The first trio, for alternating woodwind and strings, was sprightly and witty, and the second, reminiscent of a Bach chorale, was most eloquently expressed.

The heartfelt Adagio espressivo, glowing with colour and warmth was so beautiful. The woodwind solos were magical.

The last movement, Allegro molto vivace, exuberant and full of energy, was absolutely thrilling.

In a glorious rendition of the coda, magnificent brass played their motif, now triumphant, ending a fantastic festival concert in a mood of joyful exhilaration.