Homage to Keith Jarrett and Gary Burton - Barbara Kolb
Arachnid - Grainne Mulvey
Assobio a jato - Villa-Lobos
Prison Song - Hans Werner Henze
Itinerant - Takemitsu
Clamavi - Arne Nordheim
Trio for Flute, Cello and Percussion - Nicola LeFanu
The "Symphony Soloists" series is the RDS's idea, and is one of those good ideas which bears repetition. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Symphony Orchestra, members of the NSO and the RTE Concert Orchestra play chamber music. Last Monday night's concert - the second in the series - was given by William Dowdall (flute), Aisling Drury Byrne (cello) and Richard O'Donnell (percussion), and was entirely 20th century.
The playing was consistently strong in conveying the nature of each piece, even if some performances hinted at more persuasive possibilities. This was especially true of Villa-Lobos's Assobio a jato for flute and cello. Dating from 1950 and by far the oldest piece on the programme, it suggested, though never achieved, the energy of popular dance. Arne Nordheim's tightly organised Clamavi for solo cello was much more persuasive. There were well focused performances of Takemitsu's Itinerant for solo flute, of Grainne Mulvey's Arachnid for cello and piano - the one Irish work on the programme - and of Barbara Kolb's Homage to Keith Jarrett and Gary Burton.
The Kolb was one of two trios. The other was by Nicola LeFanu, and I wondered whether its repeated patterns and sectional contrasts needed a more forward-driving rhythmic style.
The most convincing performances were of the Takemitsu, the Nordheim and of Hans Werner Henze's Prison Song for solo percussion and tape. I heard O'Donnell play this piece two years ago, and this performance lingered in the memory this week as much as it did then.
"Symphony Soloists" continues at the RDS on Monday at 8.00 p.m., with Elaine Clark (violin) and David Clark (cello).