There were two Konzerthaus debuts to be experienced at the Matinee concert of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra: the conductor Nikos Tsouchlos, director of the Megaron concert hall in Athens, and the cellist Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. It was a premier concert, where both were heartily cheered by the audience.

The Vienna Chamber Orchestra proved itself as a kind of universal ensemble. That means they performed Haydn’s Trauer Symphony as colourfully as Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony, they showed élan and lightness, that they accompanied the soloist with the same commitment as they showed in a selection from the Greek Dances by Nikos Skalkottas.

In this way, and only in this way, can a whole be created, with an impressive unity of sound.

Therefore, it was a morning that showed no gaps, no extreme contrasts. Joy and tradition melded together here. And conductor Nikos Tsouchlos took care to provide a spotless performance.

What is remarkable about this ensemble? Firstly, that a fresh brightness shines from the music-making, that behind the playing there is an impressive knowledge of performance styles, that a certain routine – in the best sense of the term – can always be felt here.

Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi integrated himself seamlessly; his view of the Haydn C Major Cello Concerto was as classic as the effect of mastery of his playing. With his broad, bright sound, he was able to do justice to the beauties of the composition, and scored repeatedly with his sense of style. OL

Translation by John Allan Moffatt.