Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Critiques

It is fast becoming a BSO ‘war-horse’, yet Pinheiro took the reins of Saint-Saens’ Symphony No3 and, in an electrically-charged performance, gave the finest account I’ve heard in the Lighthouse. No mean feat and as much down to giving due weight to the organ (Chris Dowie) as his own finely judged dynamics. From the early stillness Pinheiro balanced the threads with exemplary clarity and when the organ’s lovely, solemn harmony emerged the effect was magical. The finale, with a panoply of brass and percussion challenging the organ, was absolutely magnificent.