Tag Archives: Rachmaninov

Russian heart: terrific performances from Mariss Jansons and the Bavarian RSO

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Mark Pullinger

Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Rachmaninov: Bavarian RSO/Jansons ***** Barbican Hall, 11th April 2017 “I have the brain of a Latvian and the heart of a Russian.” Born in Riga, Mariss Jansons has spent much of his life in St Petersburg, initially as … Continue reading →

Posted in Concert | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Spectacular Tchaikovsky: Alice Sara Ott fires up an old warhorse

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Mark Pullinger

Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov: Philharmonia/Vladimir Ashkenazy **** Royal Festival Hall, 17th November 2016 Warhorse (noun): creaky old classic played by orchestras in their sleep at least once a season. Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto no. 1 in B flat minor falls into this category. Everyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Concert | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Spectacular Tchaikovsky: Alice Sara Ott fires up an old warhorse

Beloved Friend: Bychkov’s Tchaikovsky series closes with a provocative Pathétique

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Mark Pullinger

Tchaikovsky/Rachmaninov: BBCSO/Bychkov *** Barbican, 28th October 2016 In a world where our online arteries are clogged by instant messaging, it’s easy to make connections across the miles. Twitter, Whatsapp, Skype and countless other methods of communication enable friendships to grow … Continue reading →

Posted in Concert | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Beloved Friend: Bychkov’s Tchaikovsky series closes with a provocative Pathétique

Prom 50: Angels and Demons as Vedernikov leads a gripping Prokofiev Third

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Mark Pullinger

Prom 50: BBCSO/Vedernikov *** Royal Albert Hall, 23rd August 2016 A belated touch of demonic fire was a welcome ingredient to last night’s Prom. Prokofiev’s Third Symphony, based on themes from his opera The Fiery Angel, received a reading which, … Continue reading →

Posted in Concert | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Prom 50: Angels and Demons as Vedernikov leads a gripping Prokofiev Third

Zukerman drives an unsteady Russian troika with the RPO

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Mark Pullinger

Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov: RPO/Zukerman *** Royal Festival Hall, 1st March 2016 A troika of Russian warhorses trotted out from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra stable, with Pinchas Zukerman guiding the reins. The trouble is, once into the paddock they veered off in … Continue reading →

Posted in Concert | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Zukerman drives an unsteady Russian troika with the RPO