Also sprach Zarathustra Review (MSO at Costa Hall)
Summary:
5
Perfection
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) returned to Costa Hall on Friday 13 March with a program that delivered not only technical brilliance but a sense of pure enchantment. Under the direction of Chief Conductor Jaime Martín, the MSO performed with the kind of world‑class precision and emotional depth that has become its hallmark.
The evening opened with the Australian premiere of Melody Eötvös’ The Deciding Machine, a work honouring women’s suffrage and Ada Lovelace’s pioneering contributions to early computing. Its modern textures and thoughtful themes added a contemporary resonance to the night, setting the stage for the classical masterworks that followed.
For me, the evening’s most breathtaking moment came with Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra. Hearing that iconic opening live, the same one immortalised in 2001: A Space Odyssey felt like being lifted above the world’s noise and worries, carried on a kind of musical flying carpet. The orchestra’s power and clarity were overwhelming in the best possible way.
The night also offered unexpected delights, including the rare sight of two harps on stage. Watching them shimmer through the orchestral texture was both fascinating and beautiful, a reminder of how much colour and nuance Strauss demands from his players.
The true revelation of the evening, however, was 22‑year‑old Spanish violinist María Dueñas, making her Australian debut season. Her performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto was extraordinary, serene one moment, electrifying the next. She played entirely from memory, completely immersed in the music, and her connection with the orchestra felt instinctive. She didn’t need to look for cues; she simply breathed with the ensemble, shaping every phrase with confidence and grace. It was a performance that felt both intimate and transcendent.
Equally compelling was Jaime Martín’s leadership. His conducting was a study in energy, precision and deep musical understanding. He knew the score inside out, rarely glancing at the pages in front of him, and his rapport with the musicians was unmistakable. Every entry, every shift in colour, every swell of sound was guided with assurance. The MSO is fortunate to have him at its helm.
Altogether, it was a beautiful and uplifting performance one that left me deeply moved and grateful… Another unforgettable night of music to remember.
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