BBC SO/City of London Sinfonia, BBC Maida Vale Studios / Christ Church, Spitalfields
A statue within a block of marble
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Your support makes all the difference.The English composer Anthony Powers, who will be 50 next year, is capable of coming up with strong and original statements, such as his recent String Quartet No 3. His Symphony No 2 was completed three years ago on commission from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, but this half-hour, three-movement work was given its world premiere only last Friday, by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Rumon Gamba.
The symphony has its origins in Michelangelo's famous statement about finding a sculpture within a block of marble. But Powers' material didn't have the individuality of his best works to sustain it through what were rather stop-go structural manouevres. Only when a fine climax triggered off the final section's lyrical string writing – gradually sculpting melodic lines that lead back to the work's earlier material while the rest of the orchestra imitates the artist's hammer and chisel – did I sit up and take notice.
The programme also included scores by George Newson and John Buller, two older and these days unfamiliar composers. It was especially rewarding to hear again the sun-drenched, sultry sounds of Proenca, Buller's inspired settings from 1977 of Provençal poetry, featuring mezzo-soprano (excellent Deborah Miles-Johnson) and electric guitar (James Woodrow).
At Spitalfields, the countertenor Michael Chance's indisposition deprived the audience of another Powers premiere. But in other festival concerts, William Attwood's Colour Down the Side was a surprisingly short but highly imaginative, often punchy and vividly textured piece for the City of London Sinfonia conducted by Douglas Boyd, performed as part of a craftily assembled and superlatively played programme based on the theme of multiple soloists.
And, taking up this year's Jewish theme, Joseph Phibbs's Ritual Songs and Blessings, a festival commission, was based on Jewish folk songs. Featuring three wind soloists in turn, it proved to be a beautifully constructed composition for seven musicians from the excellent young group Chroma.Together, these works are the best brand-new pieces I've heard at Spitalfields in some time.
The BBC SO's concert will be broadcast on Radio 3, 17 August, 10.45pm
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