BBCNOW's recent performance of Anders Hillborg's Exquisite Corpse brought together a unique blend of magic and melancholy beauty, drawing the audience into an intriguing world of sound.
The composition itself was inspired by the surrealist art movement, in which multiple artists contributed to a single piece without prior knowledge of each other's work. Hillborg took this principle as his foundation, incorporating references to diverse composers such as Stravinsky, Ligeti, and Sibelius, while also showcasing his own distinctive style.
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Ryan Bancroft, delivered a performance that was nothing short of breathtaking. The layers of sound unfolded with remarkable vitality, evoking a range of instrumental colors from delicate harmonies to thunderous bass notes. From the delicate piccolos to the insistent conga drumming, Hillborg's music seemed to taunt and tease the ear before finally fading into a gentle haze.
A striking connection was established through Sibelius' Lemminkäinen Suite Op 22, which drew on the Kalevala, Finland's national epic. The work's dark, surreal narrative found a sympathetic ear in Bancroft's interpretation, balancing dramatic tension with the score's elemental quality. Amy McKean's exquisite cor anglais solo was particularly noteworthy.
The evening also featured Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No 2 Op 126, in which Alban Gerhardt delivered a performance that stripped away the music's tragic connotations, instead focusing on its melancholy beauty. The writing on the high A string was impeccable, and Gerhardt's nuanced delivery brought out the music's intricacies. Following an intense experience playing this piece, it was heartwarming to see Gerhardt join the cello section for a poignant rendition of Sibelius' suite – just for fun.
The composition itself was inspired by the surrealist art movement, in which multiple artists contributed to a single piece without prior knowledge of each other's work. Hillborg took this principle as his foundation, incorporating references to diverse composers such as Stravinsky, Ligeti, and Sibelius, while also showcasing his own distinctive style.
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Ryan Bancroft, delivered a performance that was nothing short of breathtaking. The layers of sound unfolded with remarkable vitality, evoking a range of instrumental colors from delicate harmonies to thunderous bass notes. From the delicate piccolos to the insistent conga drumming, Hillborg's music seemed to taunt and tease the ear before finally fading into a gentle haze.
A striking connection was established through Sibelius' Lemminkäinen Suite Op 22, which drew on the Kalevala, Finland's national epic. The work's dark, surreal narrative found a sympathetic ear in Bancroft's interpretation, balancing dramatic tension with the score's elemental quality. Amy McKean's exquisite cor anglais solo was particularly noteworthy.
The evening also featured Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No 2 Op 126, in which Alban Gerhardt delivered a performance that stripped away the music's tragic connotations, instead focusing on its melancholy beauty. The writing on the high A string was impeccable, and Gerhardt's nuanced delivery brought out the music's intricacies. Following an intense experience playing this piece, it was heartwarming to see Gerhardt join the cello section for a poignant rendition of Sibelius' suite – just for fun.
Ryan Bancroft is like a total rockstar conductor, he really brought out the magic in that music. And can we talk about Amy McKean's cor anglais solo?! 
She has such an amazing talent, her voice just floated through the air and it gave me chills. Alban Gerhardt's cello playing was so emotive too, I loved how he connected with Sibelius' suite after doing that intense Shostakovich concerto 
I'm literally swooning over that BBCNOW performance 
! The way Hillborg wove together those different influences into this Exquisite Corpse piece was pure genius 
. And the orchestra's delivery? Sublime 
. I loved how they balanced the darker, more dramatic moments with the lighter, more whimsical parts – it was like a musical rollercoaster ride 
! The piccolos were giving me LIFE 
. The way Alban Gerhardt brought out the nuances in Shostakovich's cello concerto was just masterful 
. What I loved most, though, was how all these different pieces seemed to come together in a weirdly beautiful way – like they were all speaking this secret language 
. Anyway, can we please get more of that kind of magic from BBCNOW? 
. And that orchestra, led by Ryan Bancroft, just brought everything together in a way that was both magical 
and melancholic 
at the same time.
! That cor anglais part was like butter for my soul 
. And Alban Gerhardt's cello playing... wow, just wow 
. He totally took that Cello Concerto No 2 and made it feel all vulnerable and beautiful 
.
. And I'm so down for Gerhardt jamming with the cello section afterwards 
I love that BBCNOW brought Anders Hillborg's Exquisite Corpse to life, but honestly, can't they make the forums for watching it easier to navigate? Every time I try to stream something here, I end up getting stuck on some outdated player or have to download a million updates. 
And why do I always get recommended articles from 2018 about Hillborg's other works when all I want to know is what this piece means in the context of surrealist art? 
It's like they're not listening to us, you know? 
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." 
His nuanced delivery brought out the music's intricacies, and it was amazing to see him bring a sense of joy and camaraderie to the performance.
with lots of different pieces coming together to create something totally unique and mesmerizing! 
pure magic 
. the whole "magic & melancholy beauty" vibe is just a fancy way of sayin' it was pretty and sad at the same time 
. and whats up with all the fuss over amy mckean's cor anglais solo? its nice n all, but not exactly earth-shatterin performance wise 