Salonen and the Philharmonia deliver a razor-sharp Wozzeck at Disney Hall

By Ted Ayala, 21 November 2012

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Reviewed at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles on 13 November 2012

Berg, Wozzeck

Philharmonia Orchestra

UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus

Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor

Johan Reuter, Wozzeck

Angela Denoke, Marie

Hubert Francis, Drum major

Joshua Ellicott, Andres

Peter Hoare, Captain

Kevin Burdette, Doctor

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

Paavo Järvi and the Philharmonia: a debut and a swansong

Roy Westbrook, 9th November

Alena Baeva impresses in her belated Philharmonia debut, playing Max Bruch’s evergreen First Violin Concerto.

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Ted Ayala

Ted Ayala is a writer and musicologist born and raised in Los Angeles. Aside from classical music he loves literature (especially from Latin America and Japan), learning languages, reading about history, video games from the 1980s-1990s, and cats. You can follow his blog here.