Last Sunday the Sinfonia Christkoenig concluded their third season of concerts under the patronage of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and welcomed the Belgian solo harpist Anneleen Lenaerts with interesting contributions to the programme. The highly endowed musician brought with her a rather unknown harp concerto, which is quite rare in respect to this instrument. It was composed by the Russian late Romanticist Reinhold Gliére,(1875–1956), who was born in Kiev and was no unknown composer during his lifetime. One of his pupils was Prokofjew.
Getting to know his work was a worthwhile experience, as the soloist managed to elicit brilliant, usually hardly discernable differentiations of the sound from her instrument. And also her part in a first performance by Thomas Doss was essential. Thomas Doss named his latest work „Mandala“ (focal point), in which – circulating around standard pitch „a“ – he composed a colourful piece of music, stylistically free but widely tonal in a kind of two-dimensional technique which puts the audience into a „meditative mood“. He definitely succeeded in that respect. It was not only the philharmonic assistance that raised the reputation of this exquisite concert experience but also the outstanding performance of Eduard Matscheko as conductor. It is no wonder that the orchestral musicians (picked by him) expressed the most subtle emotions of Mozart’s „Linz Sinfony“ owing to his clear and precise way of conducting. Long and enthusiastic applause.