Prom 71: Mixed doubles from St Louis Symphony

A performance of John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary good enough to convert even the most conservative listener to the Church of New Music.

There is more common than meets the eye to the three works on the programme by the St Louis Symphony Orchestra in the Powell Hall on Saturday night. The rhythmic diversity in each challenges the unity of the orchestra to the extreme.

If only every orchestral concert were as thoughtfully programmed as the Saint Louis Symphony’s last Saturday. David Robertson led his orchestra in Debussy’s Printemps, an ingratiating early work; the Carnegie Hall premiere of Quatre Instants by Kaija Saariaho with the irrepressible soprano Karita Mattila; and the full-length version of Stravinsky’s Firebird.

Wynton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto in D is a sprawling smorgasbord of a piece, held together by Nicola Benedetti’s ferocious commitment and personality, along with a Mallonee premiere and perfect Petrushka.

Stepping in for an indisposed Marta Gardolińska, the guest conductor leads a virtuosic performance of Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra paired with Leila Josefowičz playing Szymanowski’s Second Violin Concerto.

At the Philharmonie, David Robertson steps in for Kirill Petrenko for a concert all about the wonders of nature, featuring Varèse, Srnka and Beethoven.