Page 368 - Liverpool Philharmonic 22-23 Season Coverage Book

performance of Janacek’s Katya Kabanova which with the best will in the world –
and singing to match (Simon O’Neill as an ardent Boris, Amanda Majeski glowing as
Katya) – didn’t quite cut to the anguished, tear-stained core of the piece.

It’s difficult to say why. The orchestral playing was beyond silken and the details of
Janacek’s orchestration (the jagged stabs of brass; those weird, unnerving high
timpani shots) gleamed. Rattle is always good at the detail. Something about the
flatness of the concert format, perhaps? The singers wore evening dress, coming and
going behind music stands: pretty standard stuff but these days, especially with this
team, we’ve come to expect more. Or the decision to play it without an interval –
which conveyed a certain urgency, but also suggested that they wanted to power
through and get it over with? One way or another, it all felt too easy.

WRITTEN BY
Richard Bratby