Nott conducts Poulenc and Mahler with something of the night about them.

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
October 29, 2014

Poulenc and Mahler may not sound like typical bedfellows but as last night’s concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Nott demonstrated  that they sometimes have more in common than one might think. Colour and light were common factors at least in an intriguing program coupling a pair of works often considered ‘tricky’ with respect to each composer’s most typical output.

Poulenc’s 1938 Organ Concerto is without doubt one of his most sublime and profound utterances. Scored for the highly original and imaginative combination of organ, strings and timpani, it’s by turns dramatic, reflective and, contrary to those who see only the gloom of tormented Catholicism at work here, at times it’s attractively playful.

The drama was evident from the start with David Drury conjuring up a full-fat ‘Phantom of the Opera’ wallop from the Sydney Opera House organ. There was plenty of baroque majesty, with regular nods to Poulenc’s predecessor JS Bach. The reflective moments were beautifully realised, the SSO violins especially sweet toned, and there was some lovely duetting between Drury and Tobias Breider’s solo viola.

The playfulness...