Anglo-Russian repertoire as the BSFO closes its first tour

By Mark Pullinger, 26 September 2019

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“a terrific Storm that had the audience battening down the hatches”

Reviewed at Cadogan Hall, London on 25 September 2019

Vaughan Williams, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor for piano and orchestra, Op.43

Chopin, Prélude in D flat major “Raindrop”, Op.28 no.15

Britten, Four Sea Interludes from ‘Peter Grimes’ with readings from George Crabbe’s poem ‘The Borough’

Shostakovich, Music to the film Hamlet after Shakespeare for orchestra, Op.116

Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet: Romeo at Juliet's Tomb

Pavel Kolesnikov, Piano

Edward Fox, Actor

Freddie Fox, Actor

Britten-Shostakovich Festival Orchestra

Jan Latham-Koenig, Conductor

Muscular performances from the Zagreb Philharmonic at the Anvil

David Truslove, 7th April

Mahler and Sibelius own the lion’s share of this Anvil concert in beefy performances that leave a strong, but at times mixed, impression.

***11

Drums of war: the Flanders Symphony Orchestra at Cadogan Hall

Alexander Hall, 15th March

Jan Latham-Koenig conducting the Flanders Symphony Orchestra reveals the drama and Romantic heart in Mendelssohn's Third Symphony, while Filippo Gorini chooses a classical approach to Beethoven.

****1

Demidenko's Chopin a highlight

Frances Wilson, 16th February

The Flanders Symphony Orchestra performed music by Mozart and Beethoven, with Russian pianist Nikolai Demidenko joining them for Chopin's Piano Concerto no. 1 in E minor.

***11

Fervent Rachmaninov from Demidenko

Julia Zupancic, 13th February

Under the baton of Jan Latham-Koenig, the Flanders Symphony Orchestra rendered a diverse programme in Leeds.

***11

Twice upon a time in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 22nd October

A twin bill of fairy tales in Prague delights and disappoints.

***11

Musical tapas: Orquesta Filarmónica de Mexico UNAM

Chris Garlick, 9th July

An action-packed, generous concert by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Mexico UNAM conducted by Jan Latham-Koenig at the Cadogan Hall.

****1

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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.

Anglo-Russian repertoire as the Britten-Shostakovich Festival Orchestra closes its first tour