Callum Smart makes stunning RPO debut

By Clive Peacock, 21 September 2016

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Reviewed at Cheltenham Town Hall: Main Stage, Cheltenham on 20 September 2016

Beethoven, Fidelio, Op.72: Overture

Grieg, Two Elegiac Melodies for string orchestra, Op.34

Bruch, Violin Concerto no. 1 in G minor, Op.26

Mendelssohn, Symphony no. 3 in A minor, "Scottish", Op.56

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Matthew Halls, Conductor

Callum Smart, Violin

Edusei’s Beethoven and Rangwanasha’s Strauss thrill at Cadogan Hall

Christopher Woodley, 26th February

Kevin John Edusei, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra celebrate the joys of a life well-lived – rounded off to the sounds of larks ascending.

****1

Petrenko’s searing Shostakovich overshadows Grosvenor’s Beethoven

Nick Boston, 3rd February

Stylish Beethoven from Benjamin Grosvenor and dramatic Ustvolskaya from Yuriy Yurchuk, but Petrenko and the RPO’s blistering Shostakovich steals the show.

****1

Charisma and colour from Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic

Chris Garlick, 7th September

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s BBC Proms matinee proves an ideal opportunity to demonstrate their strengths in a programme of Respighi, Milhaud and Vaughan Williams.

****1

Perception-altering Shostakovich from Serebrennikov and Petrenko

Mark Pullinger, 27th April

As part of the Southbank Centre's Multitudes festival, Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony is given a stunning visual direction by Kirill Serebrennikov to match the RPO's gripping playing.

*****

A trio of exiled composers: Petrenko and the RPO at the RFH

David Truslove, 23rd March

Assured performances from the RPO as part of its ongoing “Lights in the Dark” series that brought career correspondences between three markedly different composers.

****1

Giltburg’s Beethoven enlightens the dark between Berg and Stravinsky

Roy Westbrook, 26th January

Vasily Petrenko frames his Royal Philharmonic Orchestra programme with Berg and Stravinsky, with Boris Giltburg playing Beethoven's Emperor Concerto in between.

****1

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Clive Peacock

Clive’s musical education began at Bristol Cathedral School and continued at home with a piano and singing teacher mother. During a commercial career, mainly in London with Voluntary Service Overseas and Prudential plc, he developed his love for the works of the great composers in the capital’s concert halls and opera houses. Since his retirement in 2000 he has reviewed for local Midland newspapers covering festivals in Coventry, Warwick, Leamington, Stratford and Longborough and completed a degree at Warwick University. Involvement in local politics, taking morning swims in Kenilworth and maintaining Morgan sports cars are favourite hobbies.

Callum Smart makes stunning debut with the RPO