The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's all-Rachmaninov concert drew its biggest audience for a while, revealing this music's special ability to speak to our collective heart.
But what else would one expect from a man who once said he composed to give expression to his feelings, just as he spoke to give utterance to his thoughts?
Music director Edo de Waart promised no emotional overloading; the music would speak for itself and it did, beginning with an exquisitely poised and woven Vocalise.
Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto had the ideal soloist in Joyce Yang. The well-paced clarity of its opening pages illuminated some Bachian dexterity; she passionately embraced the arching melodies and fearlessly tackled the more difficult cadenza option.
The second movement cemented a unique musical partnership as delicate instrumental lines melded into keyboard shimmer. The finale thrilled, right through to its closing Vivacissimo.
