Tag Archives: Philharmonia

Esa-Pekka Salonen peels the layers of Peer Gynt

Grieg: Esa-Pekka Salonen/Philharmonia *** Royal Festival Hall, 26th November 2015 “You’re not an emperor, you’re an onion!” muses Peer Gynt, looking back on his life. He peels back the layers of an onion, recounting his many different guises… a rogue … Continue reading

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Battle lines drawn: bracing Haydn and Nielsen from Paavo Järvi and the Philharmonia

Nielsen, Haydn: Paavo Järvi Philharmonia **** Royal Festival Hall, 19th November 2015 It was the percussion which took the starring role as Haydn and Nielsen engaged in a lively skirmish at the Royal Festival Hall. In his “Military” Symphony, Haydn holds … Continue reading

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Prom 53: Shostakovich’s Orango keeps the Red Flag flying over South Kensington

Bartók/Mozart/Shostakovich: Philharmonia/Salonen *** Royal Albert Hall, 24th August 2015 Fervent flag-waving is usually reserved for the Last Night of the Proms, so what was going on in this Philharmonia concert? The Arena was awash with a sea of red flags, … Continue reading

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Boris crowned Tsar again in London: The Philharmonia’s Mighty Handful collection

Mussorgsky, Borodin, Cui, Rimsky-Korsakov: Philharmonia/Hrůša *** Royal Festival Hall, 30th April 2015 Boris is all the rage in London this season. Elected to supreme power, he is haunted by a dodgy past and eventually crumbles. No, not Boris Johnson (Bachtrack … Continue reading

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“Sound and fury”: a terrific Manfred from Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia

Scriabin, Mozart, Tchaikovsky: Philharmonia/Ashkenazy **** Royal Festival Hall, 19th April 2015 Tchaikovsky’s Manfred is the black sheep of his symphonic canon. Many conductors refuse to include it in performed or recorded cycles. Based on Byron’s dramatic poem, it is a strange, … Continue reading

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