They deserved their ovation on Saturday night. And more. For our SSO, led by guest conductor Xian Zhang, had just finished performing Beethoven’s Symphony No 5 that could be argued was one of the finest deliveries of this well known symphony.

Looking as if Xian could do with a podium double the standard height, it was soon evident her small statue was no impediment to her vivacious and forthright conducting. However, it was Xian’s come-hither coaxing of ensemble entries with her beckoning middle finger that allowed this performance to show what a huge dynamic range this symphony actually possesses. Certainly Beethoven built-in a large range in sound – the woodwind section stretches from piccolo to contrabassoon – but Xian had the SSO deliver that breadth in range perfectly.

A great example of the dynamics eked out by Xian was the lead up to the last movement. It was the quietest playing I have ever heard from the SSO. Then it went quieter some more. This added a haunting menace to the music and gave the entrance of the trombones the impact of a sonic boom!

The SSO’s playing was far more nuanced as they shaped their sound too. At times the sound trickled across the orchestra from the rear violins to the double basses like wind weaving its way through a field of wheat. In 2016, under Vladimir Ashkenazy, the SSO looked like a bunch of Olympic athletes in a battle for Gold. They performed very physically, putting their whole bodies to work to get all the notes out. This time they seemed far more nuanced in their delivery letting their instruments do more of the work.

It was brilliant! As the audience left the Concert Hall they talked amongst themselves about the experience. How much of the success we heard was due to the conductor? How much was due to the SSO? Much could be placed on the shoulders of Xian but a violin player’s view, expressed to me as we walked to our cars afterwards, was that it was all SSO.

I can see why Xian is so very popular around the world. A visiting conductor must be able to build rapport quickly with a new orchestra and get the best from them in a short duration. My view is Xian was fortunate to find in the SSO a very fine ensemble of players that gave her the freedom she needed to deliver her interpretation of Beethoven’s great work of art. And that they all did together in spades…