RSNO Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

“a promisingly inspired orchestral soundscape”

As a prelude to what was effectively a Tchaikovsky love-in, the RSNO opened with what, not so long ago, would have been uncommon territory for them — a brand new work.

This was Semblance, by South African-born Allan X Chen, a promisingly inspired orchestral soundscape arising from his winning participation in the 2018-19 RSNO Composers' Hub programme.

From its arresting opening, erupting with the harnessed intensity of a controlled explosion, Chen's gradual deconstruction of the motivic fallout offered up a febrile cocktail of conflicting gestures — on the one hand supercharged and brittle, on the other softened by wilting woodwind sighs or glassy string harmonics.

This restless conundrum of ideas, its purposeful progression towards heightened climax and ultimate retreat into silence, came vividly to life under American conductor Teddy Abrams' forensic direction, the RSNO crisp and alert in response.