★★★★★ Zukerman finesses Brahms’ concerto, but Fisch’s First is world-class.

Perth Concert Hall

August 21, 2015

It’s two years since I first heard Asher Fisch conduct the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in Brahms (a fine account of the Third Symphony) and in the meantime a lot of time and effort has gone into refining their special German Romantic sound. Following on from last year’s Helpmann nominated Beethoven Festival, 2015’s equivalent homage to Beethoven’s semi-anointed musical heir is a perfect opportunity across four symphonies and four concertos for WASO to show just how far they’ve travelled. And on this first showing I’d suggest that anyone who can get to Perth over these two weekends should beg, borrow or steal a ticket, for this is world-class Brahms playing.

The evening began with a warm tribute and dedication of the opening concert to Roger Smalley, the British Australian composer whose commitment to new music and education in WA clearly touched the lives of many of the players on the platform. Then we were off, with Pinchas Zukerman taking his place for Brahms’ Violin Concerto. At 67, the work is pretty much in the Israeli violinist’s DNA, and the Perth audience was duly treated to...