Bělohlávek opened the programme with a pair of Dvořák Slavonic dances, extended national anthems immediately establishing their distinctive Czech credentials of vibrant tone, super-resonant strings and wind timbre, with the utterly authentic lilt of Dvořák's rhythm and melody.
Next came Gabriel Erkoreka's "Duduk II," named after the traditional Armenian oboe whose vibrant modal music and somewhat doleful timbre the composer brought to life with care and affection.
Here much of that internal music is submerged in loud bustle, despite superb acting by Ofelia Gonzalez as the Mother -- her voice has the timbre of a cello -- and vibrant performances by Adriana Sananes as the Bride and Maria Jose Alvarez as the abandoned wife.
Tabuh-Tabuhan, subtitled Toccata for Orchestra and Two Pianos, dates from 1936: McPhee's faithful reproduction of the gamelan sound in his core concertino lineup of two pianos, celeste, xylophone, marimba and glockenspiel felt radical; their timbres exotic, the pounding ostinati astonishingly vibrant and modern.
Still, the most striking contributions were those of the ensemble's vocalists -- Lucilla Galeazzi, who also wrote several of the pieces; the dusky mezzo-soprano Luciana Mancini; Raquel Andueza, a vibrant soprano; and Vincenzo Capezzuto, essentially an alto, though with a timbre and expressive style closer to those of a soul singer than those of a Baroque countertenor.
It is a vibrant, vividly orchestrated work, and the musicians addressed its shifting timbres and moods — it ranges from tense and combative to serenely sweet-toned — with an impressive flexibility.
"Timbre," corrects Boyle immediately.
And what is vocal timbre?
Extremely nasal timbre thus stresses different overtones than mellow timbre.
