Thierry Fischer/ Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Festival Hall, 10th March 2020
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra played Borodin at my first concert in London. That was nearly thirty years ago, when Vladimir Ashkenazy was chief conductor, the Royal Festival Hall its home. How times change. Now largely based at Cadogan Hall, its focus in a crowded market has shifted away from core classical repertoire. After Charles Dutoit’s fall from grace two years ago, the orchestra is leaderless, eagerly awaiting Vasily Petrenko to take up the chief conductor reins next year. But an evening of Russian staples back at the Festival Hall was a perfect opportunity to “take the temperature” of Sir Thomas Beecham’s band.
Thierry Fischer
© Marco Borggreve
Click here to read the full review on Bachtrack.