Ray Chen wins hearts and minds with Shostakovich while Matheuz has a few idiosyncratic ideas on offer.

Playhouse, Arts Center Melbourne

March 22, 2014

It may be that Gustavo Dudamel’s outstanding success as the conductor of his generation that has led other orchestras to seek out fellow graduates of the El Sistema program, in an attempt to recreate the wunderkind’s success. If so, Diego Matheuz, could be seen as that recruit for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, being appointed as Principal Guest Conductor in 2012. And with a near sold out crowd, the audience was clearly keen to hear the young conductor’s interpretation of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

An brisk and lively rendition of Shostakovich’s Festival Overture opened the performance. Special mention must be made to the exceptional blend from the low strings and low brass, a warm and solid foundation for the singing string melodies to skim across.

Australian violinist Ray Chen was the soloist for Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto. A consummate performer, he displayed brilliant artistic and technical control in his exploration of this intensely emotional work. Chen should especially be commended on his ability to maintain the intensity of the more introspective first and third movements, never allowing the more delicate...