Paavo Järvi and Viktoria Mullova impress in Sibelius and Tchaikovsky

By Vishnu Bachani, 14 May 2019

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“the dying away... did not shock as much as it conveyed a sense of inevitable despair and tragedy”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 11 May 2019

Beethoven, Egmont, Op.84: Overture

Sibelius, Violin Concerto in D minor, Op.47

Pärt, Passacaglia

Tchaikovsky, Symphony no. 6 in B minor, "Pathétique", Op.74

Philharmonia Orchestra

Paavo Järvi, Conductor

Viktoria Mullova, Violin

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.

****1

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Vishnu Bachani

Dividing his time between New York and London, Vishnu Bachani is a recent graduate of New York University in mathematics and music. Interested in tonal music theory and analysis, he has written for The Bruckner Journal and New York Classical Review and has completed analytical research on music ranging from Wagner and Bruckner to Radiohead and Massive Attack, which he regularly posts on his website. Some cherished musicians include J.S. Bach, Gustav Mahler, and Meshuggah.