Rachmaninov’s ‘other No. 2’ delivered with exuberant energy
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By Tony Way
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MSO, Hamer Hall, July 9
Being overshadowed by an illustrious namesake can be challenging. Take “Rach 2”, immediately associated with Rachmaninov’s brilliant Piano Concerto No 2, rather than his Symphony No. 2. It may not have the same memorable musical clout, but this vast, hour-long hyper-romantic score has its own charms.
Lawrence Renes conducts the MSO’s version of Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2.
Credit:Nico Keenan
By lush harmonic and melodic turns of phrase, the symphony did indeed charm a capacity audience greeting the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as it re-emerged from the city’s latest lockdown, the work’s broad impulse towards tension and release resonating with the all-too-common pandemic scenario of separation and reunion.