Smudgy haze and glaring sunbursts

By Mark Pullinger, 05 May 2017

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“akin to pairing Monet with Jackson Pollock”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 4 May 2017

Boulez, Douze Notations, for piano (No. 4)

Boulez, Notation no. 4

Debussy, Images, for orchestra: Gigues

Boulez, Douze Notations, for piano (No. 7)

Boulez, Notation no. 7

Debussy, Images, for orchestra: Rondes de printemps

Boulez, Douze Notations, for piano (No. 2 )

Boulez, Notation no. 2

Debussy, Fantaisie, for piano and orchestra

Debussy, La Mer

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor

Philharmonia Orchestra

Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Piano

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

Giltburg and Foster celebrate the Philharmonia’s 80th birthday

Nick Boston, 17th November

Boris Giltburg emphasising the expression in not one but two piano concertos, with commanding performances from Lawrence Foster and the Philharmonia.

****1

More reviews...

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.

Smudgy haze and glaring sunbursts: Boulez and Debussy juxtaposed by Salonen and the Philharmonia