Thu 10 May 2007 The Scotsman

by KENNETH WALTON

WE MAY not have got all we expected from Tuesday's appearance by the Maxim Vengerov and the UBS Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, but even with the amazing Vengerov out of action as soloist in the second half of the programme due to a damaged right hand, the outcome was no less sensational.

All seemed to be going to plan to begin with. Vengerov led the youthful Verbier orchestra as soloist in Mozart's less familiar D major concerto - No2, K211. No sign of injury here. His immaculate technique, his sleek, silken tone and unshakeable musicality gave depth and purpose to this relatively lean concerto. His eagle-eyed orchestra picked up on every nuance with delicate and unanimous precision.

Then strange things began to happen. The leader, Mayumi Seiler, left the stage, some shuffling of bodies went on, and Vengerov announced a change. The orchestra would continue with the final piece in the programme - Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony in C minor, on orchestrated version of the composer's Eighth String Quartet - under his direction. Once again the result was gripping, drawing every possible grain of emotion from this effusive work.

Then it became clear Vengerov was in trouble. He announced he would conduct the rest of the programme, but his place as joint soloist with violist Lawrence Power in Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante would be taken by Seiler. Diminutive against the physically towering Power, she showed no sign of apprehension, matching Power's colossal tone with her own searing lyricism, and his every move as if they had been practising for months.

Vengerov abandoned his other planned concerto appearance, replacing it with Mozart's Symphony No 29, and a performance so rich in detail and explosive energy, that no-one in this capacity audience could have left feeling short-changed- especially as they left with the announcement of next year's sparkling GRCH International Classic Season ringing in their ears, which will include appearances by Alfred Brendel, Sarah Chang, Kurt Masur, Riccardo Chailly and the Leipzig Gewandaus.