Prom 18: musicAeterna/ Currentzis *****
Royal Albert Hall, 28th July 2018
The most famous portraits of Beethoven feature the composer wearing a scowl and a furrowed brow. Perhaps conductor Teodor Currentzis, making his BBC Proms debut, was channelling old Ludwig last night. Leading musicAeterna, his Perm-based band, through the Second and Fifth Symphonies, Currentzis scowled and glowered in best Beethovenian manner. But alongside the fierce finger jabs, clenched fists and karate chop arms there were sighs and beatific smiles too, head hanging and wrists flopping at times, like a forlorn Petrushka. Whatever his platform histrionics, the high voltage results Currentzis draws from this Russian orchestra are truly electrifying.
Teodor Currentzis conducts musicAeterna
© BBC | Chris Christodoulou
Read the full review on Bachtrack.