National Concert Hall, Dublin
Catherine Leonard
Guy Johnston
OSC/Barry Douglas
Beethoven - Violin Concerto. Triple Concerto

Beethoven's Triple Concerto made a surprisingly effective and uplifting conclusion to the Orchestra of St Cecilia's 10th anniversary series. The cellist gets the lion's share, followed closely by the violin, with the piano some way behind.

In Guy Johnston we had a cellist to remember, with a rare combination of panache and insight.

One reason why this work's reputation has suffered is that people try and make it a grandiloquent work, by Beethoven the heroic artist. It isn't.

Johnston, the other soloists and the OSC just went for it, with a gusto that acknowledged the music's many subtleties and that made the grouping of cello, violin and piano a coherent one. They made you realise that, as a friend remarked, this is a joyous, carefree piece.

Martin Adams