Moscow Gold in Birmingham: stunning Shostakovich

By Richard Ely, 16 May 2016

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“Kogan had located the pulse of each work”

Reviewed at Symphony Hall, Birmingham on 14 May 2016

Johnson, Behemoth Dances

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

Shostakovich, Symphony no. 5 in D minor, Op.47

Rachmaninov, Vocalise, Op.34 no.14

Shostakovich, Tahiti Trot, "Tea for Two" for orchestra, Op.16

Mores, El Firulete

Moscow State Symphony Orchestra

Pavel Kogan, Conductor

John Lill, Piano

Foot on the accelerator: speedy Rachmaninov in Basingstoke

David Truslove, 15th May

This Anvil concert revealed a “two sides of the same coin” quality from an illustrious orchestra that left a mixed, but mostly favourable impression.

****1

The depths of the famous Russian soul: Moscow State Symphony Orchestra in Middlesbrough

Jane Shuttleworth, 23rd May

A Russian orchestra playing big, soul-searching pieces of Russian music is always going to be a crowd-puller, and a full symphony orchestra visiting the North East is a rare treat, so it was no surprise that the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra had the cavernous Town Hall in Middlesbrough pretty much filled, with a very enthusiastic audience.

***11

Russians play Russian: The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra in Bristol

David Fay, 16th May

Everyone tells me that Russians play Russian music better than anyone else, but no-one seems to be able to put their fingers on the mysterious quality of Russianness Russians are meant to produce when playing Russian.

***11

Raucous Tchaikovksy from the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra in London

Renée Reitsma, 10th May

The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra continued their European tour with three programs at the Cadogan Hall, all with works by Tchaikovksy. As far as programming goes, the MSSO played it safe, but when it comes to Tchaikovksy this is not necessarily a criticism.

***11

Pavel Kogan and Moscow State Symphony Orchestra in Dublin

Andrew Larkin, 8th May

“From Russia with love” might have been an apt title for this evening’s performance from the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra on the Irish leg of their tour, for this was a concert designed to showcase all that is best in Russian music both in interpretation and in composition.

****1

Moscow State Symphony Orchestra at the Colston Hall, Bristol

Bachtrack, 11th May

I had high expectations for the evening after being very impressed with an MSSO performance I had seen as a teenager. The first piece on the programme was the Polovtsian Dances from Borodin’s opera, Prince Igor. The performance highlighted both the playful and brutal elements of the piece which made for an exciting performance.

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Richard Ely

After studying History at Leicester University, Richard trained as an actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and subsequently worked in theatres in London, Nottingham, Sheffield and Chester. He is the author and performer of several one-man shows, including the acclaimed Wagner: Journey Into Genius. His other writing interests include politics, culture, film and theatre. Richard’s principal devotion is to opera and music drama, especially those of Wagner and Strauss. He has an additional attachment to under-exposed late and post-Romantic composers such as Schreker and Shoeck. He also enjoys the symphonic and chamber music of this period.

Moscow Gold in Birmingham: stunning Shostakovich from the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra