ED2016 5/5 Reviews ED2016 Music Reviews

Berlioz’s Roméo Et Juliette (Robin Ticciati conducts the Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Edinburgh International Festival)

By Louise Rodgers | Published on Monday 22 August 2016

They say French is the language of love, although they never mentioned helpful English supertitles. Berlioz’s imaginative score was reminiscent of ballet music with two harps, woodwind including four bassoons, and lots of percussion. The SCO rose to the occasion and sparkled along, particularly harps, flutes and triangle. Soprano Magdalena Kozená as Juliette sang touchingly and The Tenebrae Consort was excellent. The Edinburgh Festival Chorus showed great personality as the warring Montagues and Capulets; their collective reaction to sorrowing Père Laurence’s denouement that he had married the tragic couple (“Mariés!”) was outrage personified. John Relyea, bass, commanded the stage as Père Laurence, demanding an end to the feud, and his sermon was rightly rewarded with joyful reconciliation.

Usher Hall, 18 Aug.
tw rating 5/5 | [Louise Rodgers]