András Schiff at The National Concert Hall

national | arts and media | news report Monday February 11, 2008 11:34 by Sean Crudden - impero sean at impero dot iol dot ie Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth. 087 9739945

Energy and Poise

When St Patrick as a young man escaped to his homeland from Ireland he reported in his "Confessions" that he heard in a dream the voices of the people of Ireland pleading with him, "Come back, O holy youth, and walk once more among us." Of course St Patrick did come back and he lit a fire on the Hill of Slane - a fire which never went out.

The burning star at the centre of last night’s performance in The National Concert Hall was András Schiff. A small man, every fibre of his body - including his hair - bristles with music.

One senses that he knows what it is to fight and struggle. Anyway he certainly knows the music of Mendelssohn, Schumann and Schubert and he presented these masters in a most captivating way last night in a buoyant but weighty concert. In particular he advocated Schumann’s music with the utmost bravery and sensitivity.

In the Schumann symphony he had between 40 and 50 compliant players of the utmost skill as his satellites and helpers. The Chamber Orchestra of Europe. He had the cellos and double basses arranged in a central position on the stage and this arrangement served to prevent diffusion of effect and helped to knit the orchestra with great togetherness.

I travelled 60 miles to the concert and paid €75 for one of the best seats in the house. I am glad I did and I hope I have as convenient an opportunity again to attend one of András Schiff’s concerts. So far, in my experience, he has never failed to bring music of top quality and great interest to Ireland.

However it must be said that there is, too often, questionable behaviour in the audience at these celebrity concerts in The National Concert Hall. Of course the best kind of behaviour is spontaneous and all the better if it is warm and sensitive. It is almost unbelievable but one senses at times a cold ignorance at these events. Anyway it has got to the stage where it needs to be discussed. Perhaps it would detract from the general spirit of these affairs if the audience were told explicitly what is expected of them?

Program

Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) Overture: "The Hebrides" Opus 26

Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) Concertstück in G: Introduction and Allegro Apassionato, Opus 92

Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No 2 in D minor Opus 4.

A piano solo encore

Interval

Schumann Symphony No 2 in C major, Opus 61

2 encores

Performers; The Chamber Orchestra of Europe with András Schiff conductor and soloist.