He would have turned 100 last year. The concertante performance of “The Turn of the Screw” in the Konzerthaus can be seen as a small afterthought to his milestone birthday. But one wants to hear Benjamin Britten, England’s most important 20th-century composer, outside of his jubilee years as well.
Brittens works hold a secret: it lies in the (sound) magic that draws every listener into its spell. Whether they come out of “Peter Grimes” or
“Billy Budd” in the State Opera, an “Albert Herring” in the Volksoper or a concertante performance, they are “Brittenites”!
The performance in the Konzerthaus was remarkable: Miah Persson and Mark Padmore are among the very best ensembles. They don’t stand out as stars, rather the pair exemplifies unity. Their voices almost meld into each other and so a compact interpretation is cast. Persson, as the tragic governess, knows how to gild the beauties of Britten’s score with impressively delicate expression as well as to work out the dramatic passages intensively. Mark Padmore, as Quint, combines a lean tenor timbre with full volume, Anne Marie Owens as Mrs. Grose was equally present, as were Cheryl Baker, William Gardner and Erin Hughes.
Conductor Rory Macdonald animated the Vienna Chamber Orchestra to produce refined colours and vivid tonal moments. Exciting!
“Kronen Zeitung” of 24.03.2014
Page: 24 Section: Culture Wi, Abend, Bgld, Wi, N.Ö., Vbg, Wi, morning edition