DUNEDIN CONCERTO COMPETITION 2023
FINALISTS CONCERT
Dunedin Town Hall
Saturday, May 27
Dunedin’s brightest young classical musicians made the most of their time in the limelight, commanding the Dunedin Town Hall stage in Saturday’s superb Dunedin Concerto Competition finalists concert.
The concert’s first half was presented by Dunedin Youth Orchestra, with a smattering of Dunedin Symphony Orchestra players among them, offering a fascinating variety of works under the steady baton of Nathaniel Otley.
After a creditable performance of Jean Sibelius’ epic Finlandia, the DYO tackled three new New Zealand works — John Rimmer’s Waitaki Reflections, Grace Shaw’s Heroica and Maddy Parkins-Craig’s Canvas Bags Won’t Save Us — with aplomb.
The DYO finished with a flourish, giving a spirited performance of Danzon No 2 by Arturo Marquez, bringing the South America dance rhythms to the fore.
Anticipation was high as the concert’s second half began, with the DSO and 17 DYO players taking the stage, ready to accompany the three concerto competition finalists under the baton of Anthony Ritchie.
First up was cellist Boudewijn Keenan, with a commanding performance of Tchaikovsky’s beautiful, virtuosic Variations on a Rococo Theme.
Tackling the work’s many fiendishly difficult passages with skill and verve, Keenan also brought its beauty and emotion to the fore, earning an eruption of applause.
Next came violinist Elio Oh with anabsorbing performance of the first movement of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor.
Skilfully tackling the interplay between orchestra and soloist, along with the work’s soaring virtuosic passages, Oh was a joy to listen to.
Oh’s calmness in the face of adversity — quickly switching violins with DSO concertmaster Tessa Petersen when a tuning issue arose — was impressive.
Last up was pianist Cameron Monteath, with a superb performance of Poulenc’s lyrical, contrasting Piano Concerto.
Blending nicely with the orchestra and rising nicely to prominence in complex solo passages, Monteath was impressive throughout.
In all three concerto performances, the DSO was sensitive and responsive in support, doing its part to help the young soloists shine.
During a pause while judges Donald Maurice, Richard Mapp and Debbie Rawson tackled the task of selecting a winner, a prizegiving was held for the young musicians who achieved highly in the competition’s preliminary rounds.
Then the moment of truth arrived — Keenan was announced as the well-deserved winner, with Oh in second place and Monteath in third, and each received generous prize money thanks to major sponsor the HTowers Charitable Trust.
It is heartening to think the future of music-making is in such good hands.
