Not Only Opera

Music by Stravinsky, Casken, Goehr, Birtwistle and Maxwell Davies
Nash Ensemble
Wigmore Hall
Stalls D5, £5 under-35s
20 September 2017
Wigmore page

It seems I don't have much to say about this concert, enjoyable though it was. Nash Ensemble recitals are a reliable delight and so this proved, although the ensemble was not as perfect as I've come to expect, perhaps a natural consequence of the programme. Stravinsky's Concertino is a known wonder. John Casken's clarinet quintet, the first world premiere of the programme, was very enjoyable and extremely well played, though to my mind a touch over-long. The double Goehr of The Waking and after 'The Waking' passed way, way over my head, as I'm afraid it usually does. There were certainly moments of The Waking for two baritones that I enjoyed, admirably sung by Simon Wallfisch and Peter Tregear, though there was a slightly unpleasant after-ring from the usually perfect Wigmore acoustic, which I've not noticed before – simply the effect of two unaccompanied voices? The Maxwell Davies quintet was magnificent and the Birtwistle trio a yet greater one.