tamaranth | Concert: Sibelius/Rachmaninoff, Janine Jansen, Philharmonia, RFH 6.2.05

The first Sibelius piece -- The Bard -- was lovely and melancholy and very Scandinavian: the Rachmaninoff -- Second Symphony, which I wasn't familiar with, and which I doubt I'd have found engaging without the opportunity to watch how it was put together -- was interesting, though occasionally discordantly modern. But I want to write about Janine Jansen, who is marvellous to watch. She was playing Sibelius' Violin Concerto, which is a dramatic work in its own right: the finale reminded me of Beethoven, all grand crescendos and kettledrums almost drowning out the aching violin line.

There's something about the way Jansen moves, the way she gestures with her whole body, that feels older than history. Last night she was wearing a powder-blue outfit, long skirt and laced bodice; but you could put that woman in animal skins and the way she moves would look just as right -- possibly more so, without the trappings of civilisation. She prowls. She reminded me of various film and TV attempts to show primitive dance -- I'm thinking Clan of the Cave Bear etc -- and also of the non-verbal signals sometimes displayed by people with mental illness or disability. There was some flirtatiousness, with the (oblivious) conductor -- one cannot imagine Mikhail Pletnev getting worked up about anything -- and, for some reason, with the second violins; and a great deal of flinching and watchfulness, like someone hunted. It's a very active state of passivity in the passages where the orchestra's getting its turn. It didn't feel as though she was consciously acting out her interpretation of the music, and when she was playing she was utterly focussed on her instrument: transcendent. But she's fascinating to watch. She draws the eye.

All of which would sound like an excuse if she didn't play brilliantly. She does. If you get the chance, see her play live. The playing will be just as fine on CD, but the silences, live, are mesmerising.