John Storgårds leads the BBC Philharmonic through Shostakovich

Anastasia Kobekina and John Storgårds

Anastasia Kobekina

By Rohan Shotton, 16 November 2025

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“[Kobekina] played with huge sensitivity to the orchestra around her, often linked in eye contact”

Reviewed at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on 15 November 2025

Shostakovich, Festive Overture in A major for orchestra, Op.96

Dvořák, Cello Concerto in B minor, Op.104

Shostakovich, Symphony no. 10 in E minor, Op.93

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

John Storgårds, Conductor

Anastasia Kobekina, Cello

Wagner and Strauss from Sarah Wegener and the BBC Philharmonic

Leighton Jones, 14th March

Celtic legends and dramatic landscapes fill Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall in an evening of emotional and reflective music under conductor Nicholas Carter.

****1

Watery worlds, rhythmic fire from Brauß and Hickox with the BBC

Leighton Jones, 7th February

Elisabeth Brauß excels in Ravel with the BBC Philharmonic and brings and unexpected encore.

****1

BBC Phil's Bluebeard's Castle eclipsed by Boulanger and Kodály

Peter Connors, 24th January

Anja Bihlmaier conducts the BBC Philharmonic in a moving D'un soir triste and joyful Dances of Galánta. Bluebeard's Castle, despite some fine things. feels less satisfying.

****1

Questions, answers and city nights: Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic

Leighton Jones, 17th January

In three hugely different musical voices, John Storgårds with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra move from the intimacy of Ives to the exhilaration of Adams, taking in Beethoven on their way.

****1

Thunderous Mahler from Elena Schwarz and the BBC Philharmonic

Rohan Shotton, 8th November

Elena Schwarz conducts the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in Mahler's First Symphony, Debussy's La Mer and a rare outing for a trombone concerto.

****1

Pulsating energy as Gabriella Smith’s Lost Coast receives UK premiere

Rohan Shotton, 11th October

Gemma New conducts the BBC Philharmonic in a lean account of Sibelius' Second Symphony to close a bracing concert under the title ‘Lost Coast’.

****1

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Rohan Shotton

Rohan has reviewed concerts and opera across the UK and Europe, but chiefly in Manchester, where he enjoys conducting and playing percussion and piano. He works as a hospital doctor, having studied in St Andrews and Manchester, and tweets as @RohanShotton.

John Storgårds leads the BBC Philharmonic through Shostakovich thickets