Beethoven keeps the flame burning

By Mark Pullinger, 16 March 2020

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“a fierce, taut account of the Fifth Symphony, blazing with revolutionary fire.”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 15 March 2020

Beethoven, Symphony no. 6 in F major "Pastoral", Op.68

Beethoven, Ah! perfido, Op.65

Beethoven, Mass in C major, Op.86: Gloria

Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 4 in G major, Op.58

Beethoven, Symphony no. 5 in C minor, Op.67

Beethoven, Mass in C major, Op.86: Sanctus

Beethoven, Piano Fantasia in G minor, Op.77

Beethoven, Fantasia in C minor for piano, chorus, and orchestra "Choral Fantasy", Op.80

Philharmonia Orchestra

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor

Stephen Fry, Presenter

Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Piano

Golda Schultz, Soprano

Aoife Miskelly, Soprano

Clare Presland, Mezzo-soprano

Stuart Jackson, Tenor

David Shaw, Tenor

Ashley Riches, Bass-baritone

Aidan Oliver, Choirmaster / chorus director

Philharmonia Voices

Rodolfus Choir

Rick Fisher, Lighting Designer

Classical grace and Romantic eloquence from the Philharmonia

Christopher Woodley, 7th May

The contrasting delights of Schumann, Brahms and Dvořák are powerfully evoked in performances of charm, eloquence and high drama from the Philharmonia, continuing the orchestra’s 80th anniversary celebrations.

****1

Benedetti ablaze with the Philharmonia

Christopher Woodley, 19th April

As gifts to the Philarmonia's 80th birthday season, Nicola Benedetti gives a barnstorming account of Elgar's Violin Concerto before Cristian Mӑcelaru gets emotionally drained by La Mer.

*****

A Resurrection for the ages: Kent Nagano conducts the Philharmonia

Eleanor Knight, 19th March

Any performance of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony is an event, but this mighty Philharmonia account at the Royal Festival Hall proves extra special.

*****

A brilliant UK premiere of John Adams’ After the Fall

David Karlin, 25th February

The Icelandic pianist and Finnish conductor make a superb case for John Adams' latest concerto; the Philharmonia play Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé strongly but don't convince completely.

****1

Renes replaces Runnicles in a remarkable Philharmonia Bruckner 8

Dominic Lowe, 19th February

Stepping in for Sir Donald Runnicles at very short notice, Lawrences Renes conducts the Philharmonia in a sleek and vivid reading of Bruckner's magisterial Eighth Symphony.

****1

Karpman’s opera Balls tells a great story, but overshoots the line

David Karlin, 20th November

An entertaining portrayal of the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs is marred by ham-fisted amplification.

**111

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Beethoven keeps the flame burning: Salonen and the Philharmonia recreate the 1808 Akademie