BBCSSO Wigglesworth Review: Brett Dean's Song Cycle Shines 2026

The BBCSSO/Wigglesworth review of this Proms concert reveals a performance that balanced orchestral tradition with contemporary daring, highlighted by Brett Dean's rich and strange song cycle The World's Wife.

Concert Overview: Elgar's First Symphony and More

Ryan Wigglesworth led the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in a program that opened with Judith Weir's Moon and Star and culminated in Elgar's First Symphony. While the Elgar was described as "handsome" but not fully transcendent, the first half offered compelling modern works.

Judith Weir's Moon and Star: A Prismatic Setting

Weir's 1995 piece, based on Emily Dickinson's poem, was praised for its filmic sweep and shimmer. The orchestral texture created a "prismatic explosion of imagery," with the verse as the crystal at its center.

Brett Dean's The World's Wife: A Theatrical Monodrama

The centerpiece was Dean's new orchestral song-cycle, setting five poems from Carol Ann Duffy's collection. Soprano Claire Booth delivered a stage-animal performance, bending the text into love-song, satire, prayer, and meditation. Dean's music, pitched between Pierrot Lunaire and Façade, was stylized and arch, yet richly textured.

Performance Analysis: Strengths and Shortcomings

The Elgar First Symphony showed Wigglesworth's architectural thinking, but the orchestra's execution often felt choppy in transitions. The Adagio had balance issues, and the final Allegro lacked context. However, the long lines were evident, and the finale's return to the opening was poignant.

Key Takeaways

• Brett Dean's song cycle is a major new work, blending satire and depth.
• Claire Booth's performance is a must-hear for fans of contemporary vocal music.
• The Elgar, while not perfect, showed Wigglesworth's thoughtful approach.
• Weir's Moon and Star deserves more performances.

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