Hearing in colour: Kochanovsky conducts ecstatic Scriabin

Stanislav Kochanovsky

Stanislav Kochanovsky conducts the Philharmonia

By Mark Pullinger, 12 May 2023

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“an orgasmic F sharp major triad flooded in violet light”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 11 May 2023

Rachmaninov, The Bells, for choir and orchestra, Op.35

Lyadov, From the Apocalypse, Op.66

Scriabin, Symphony no. 5 "Prometheus, Poem of Fire", Op.60

Simon Bennison, Lighting Designer

Alexei Volodin, Piano

Anush Hovhannisyan, Soprano

Toby Spence, Tenor

Yuriy Yurchuk, Baritone

Philharmonia Chorus

Philharmonia Orchestra

Stanislav Kochanovsky, Conductor

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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

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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.

Hearing in colour: Kochanovsky conducts the Philharmonia in ecstatic Scriabin