ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

M&G Concert at the Civic Theatre

16.01.11

The second concert of this M&G season saw cellist Paul Watkins, elevated on a central dais, directing the ECO in Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, and, naturally, playing the demanding solo part. It's a lot to ask – much tougher than directing from the violin or the harpsichord – but after a slightly shaky start, we heard a performance of integrity, wit and charm, with eloquent solo playing in the third and sixth variations especially, and engaging social chatter in the scampering Allegro Vivo Finale.

The strings [leader Stephanie Gonley] were on splendid form in the Butterworth, too, but the real meat of the evening was the two pieces of early Beethoven bookending the programme.

With his energetic showmanship, Watkins got the First Symphony off to an impressive start, and there was an intriguing edge to the Menuetto, before the sparkling Finale sent us home with a spring in our step.

The Prometheus Overture is well known – its dramatic opening chords particularly striking here – the Ballet Music less often heard. A shame we could not have had it all, or at least a few more movements; I would happily have sacrificed the token Englishman to make room for more Beethoven. The orchestra's playing had a lightness of touch combined with a steely strength, and there was fine work from Helen Tunstall's harp – rare in Beethoven – and the cello [Susan Monks] representing Apollo in the myth.