Concert review: Jennifer Pike (violin) Czech Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra/Daniel Raiskin

The Czech Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra began its programme at Cadogan Hall with its namesake, Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen Prelude and Pantomime. The orchestra’s full sound was immediately part of its strength, with this fragmented operatic prelude not an easy opener.

Bruch’s Violin Concerto no.1 followed, with Jennifer Pike as soloist. She has a remarkable comfort and poise to her playing and is for sure a natural performer. The first movement’s challenges lie in the ultimate ringing of the double-stops: here, the Cadogan’s acoustic is not the most forgiving for tuning and Pike’s intonation didn’t always line up with that of the orchestra. Precise conducting from Daniel Raiskin allowed moments of beauty to emerge from the darker colours of the second movement. Here, Pike’s playing was radiant, but not as finely nuanced as it could have been, with Bruch’s emotional extremes often predictably executed. The finale saw the orchestra lean into the fun of the score, but with the double-stop tuning again an issue for Pike. Her encore generously engaged principal violin and violas to perform the fourth of Dvořák’s Four Romantic Pieces, usually for violin and piano.

The concert’s high point was Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony, which Daniel Raiskin led with true conviction. Highlights included the second movement, imbued with fantastic character and energy, and the finely judged tempo changes which gave the finale due space for its sense of desolation to be realised.