Glowing Brahms and fiery Tchaikovsky from Bychkov and the LSO

Brahms, Tchaikovsky: LSO/Bychkov ****

Barbican Hall, 7th May 2015

While Britain was still at the polls, birthday boys Brahms and Tchaikovsky slugged it out in friendly battle at the Barbican. In the event, it was an uneven contest. Isabelle Faust sparred gently on behalf of Brahms in a finely spun rendition of the Violin Concerto, but Semyon Bychkov and the LSO delivered a knockout punch for the Russian in a bruising performance of the Fifth Symphony.

Semyon Bychkov
© Musacchio Ianniello

Read the full review on Bachtrack.