
The Divertimento that Stravinsky made from his 1928 ballet Le Baiser de la fée (The Fairy’s Kiss, for which Stravinsky showed his fondness for Tchaikovsky’s music by utilising some of his piano pieces) began slightly raggedly but soon developed into a well-paced and increasingly captivating performance that captured well a sense of fantasy, the many solos very well taken, not least by horn, clarinet and cello.
Clarity, mellifluously turned phrases and rhythmic point also brought to life Tchaikovsky’s adorable Suite No.3 – whether melancholy, graceful, gossamer-light or through the imaginative sequence that is the final Theme and Variations (a movement often played separately), Vedernikov journeyed through the work with a clear sense of line and devotion, just occasionally a little brusquely but with no lack of vividness and worked up to a closing Polonaise that had real swagger (if, seemingly, no tambourine!). Stephen Bryant’s violin solo was winningly poised.

This was Alexander Vedernikov’s debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra; the players responded with excellence and dedication to him. He will surely return. Meanwhile, BBC Radio 3’s broadcast of this concert – whenever that may be – is certainly worth catching.