Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Night Ride and Sunrise, Op.55

Sakari Oramo, Anu Komsi and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson take a deep dive into the world of Sibelius' tone poems in two concerts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

A boldly curated programme, showcasing two ambitious orchestral works premiered during the last two years, proved to be a most stimulating evening. 

Alexander Shelley curated a hot-blooded programme of adventure and imagery with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with Susanne Hou showing extraordinary technique and class in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.

Ashkenazy, The Philharmonia and Daniil Trifonov on top form in Sibelius and Rachmaninov at the Royal Festival Hall

Ranging from the famous Grieg Piano Concerto to a lesser known work of Sibelius, this concert featured a vast array of orchestral colour evoking the shimmering landscapes of the North.

As I listened to the opening work in the Philharmonia Orchestra’s concert on Tuesday night, I couldn’t help thinking that Sibelius’ tone poem Night Ride and Sunrise is the musical equivalent of Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night.