THERE’S a new must-hear group which is about to hit British concert halls.
Fortunately, Chester Summer Music audiences were first in the queue as the tenThing Brassensemble made its UK debut in the city.Š
And what a barnstorming debut it was – an ensemble which demonstrated an easy confidence when it came to performing some well-known but complicated works.
ŠŠTine Thing Helseth – at the ripe old age of 24 – has had a meteoric rise to international stardom.
She founded her ensemble of ten female brass players four years ago and they’ve already made a significant impact across Europe.
ŠŠThink brass ensemble, though, and Gabrieli canzonas or similar works written for similar groups spring to mind. That’s not the repertoire for tenThing, though – at least not for this performance.
Instead, they played a highly varied, virtuoso programme of works arranged by Jarle Storløkken.
Š They began with a pacy, fast performance of the first movement of Grieg’s Holberg Suite, breaking to explain that the arrangements of the other four movements were receiving their première.
ŠŠThere was more Grieg later in the programme: arrangements of his Lyrical Pieces, including a sprightly Grandmother’s Minuet, a melancholic Lullaby and a highly menacing March of the Trolls.
ŠŠŠIf virtuosity is the perfect word with which to describe the abilities of these ten ladies, then look to their performance of Summer, from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: slick and razor sharp. Even the fiddly guitar writing of Albeniz, in Asturias, from the Suite Española, translated into a confident performance which sounded deceptively easy.
Š The best bit of this concert? Possibly the languidly seductive Oblivion, by Argentinian composer Piazzolla. Maybe the angular, fun-filled suite from Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera. It might have been the Suite from Bizet’s Carmen which began at a furious pace and simply seemed to gather momentum as it progressed.
Š Or there was that slightly alarming moment when all the performers left the stage for their performance of Mozart’s Rondo alla Turca, taking up places amongst the audience.
Once our little group realised that it was not to be a piece involving audience participation – I can confess to, once, getting a note out of a trumpet – we could watch one of the trombonists from close quarters: actually sitting next to me.
Š They then proceeded to walk around the room while still playing. As a result, with all players scattered around the fairly large space in the Town Hall, the actual sound changed subtly as players changed their position.
Š This was an inspired performance by a highly gifted ensemble which is soon sure to be in heavy demand for dates in other parts of the country.
Š Chester was there first – but Tine Thing Helseth will be soloist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at their waterfront performance on July 23. One not to be missed!
