Last Friday, June 18^th 2010, the Radio Hall hosted the National Radio Orchestra's final concert of the season, conducted by Horia Andreescu. Bringing together works by Adrian Enescu and Ludwig van Beethoven, the program was intended both for the lover of contemporary music and the traditionalist.

Composed in 2009, the opening piece saw its premiere: Domino - Concerto for solo percussion and orchestra by Adrian Enescu. Following the rules as laid out in its title, the Concerto is remarkable for the unique sonorous interplay of the three bongos, three tom-toms, the bass drum and the vibraphone, used as a section solo. The energy of the music, its pointed rhythms and the virtuosity of the musical discourse were brought forth by percussionist Zoli Toth and the Radio Orchestra.

The next pieces transposed us into a completely different world, that of Beethoven. To begin with, the Triple Concerto for violin, cello, and piano in C major was performed by Mihaela Martin, Alexandra Costin and Franz Helmerson. Their performance was notable not only for the originality of their artistry, but also for the chamber music-style collaboration, obvious in the dialogues and thematic borrowings that frequently appear in the sheet music.

The second part of the concert brought to the fore a Beethoven symphony that is not performed as frequently: the Symphony No. 2 in D major. The conductor, Horia Andreescu, and the National Radio Orchestra had thus the opportunity to "perform as soloists". The bright notes of the composition didn't lack for moments of somberness, tension, emotion, or for those of vigour, cheer, and energy. The symphony appeared as a music of contrasts, successfully highlighted by the sustained collaboration between the ensemble and the conductor, and between the instrumental sections.

Judging by the reaction of the audience and the length of the applause, we felt that the unanimous wish is not for this season to end, but rather for the next one to begin.