Thrilling French fare from the LPO

By Katy Wright, 13 November 2014

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Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 12 November 2014

Pierné, Ramuntcho (Overture and Suite)

Poulenc, Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor, FP 61

Ravel, Rapsodie espagnole

Debussy, La Mer

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Juanjo Mena, Conductor

Katia Labèque, Piano

Marielle Labèque, Piano

Paavo Järvi marks his new LPO appointment in Tchaikovsky and Sibelius

Mark Valencia, 4th March

Paavo Järvi demonstrates just why the London Philharmonic Orchestra has chosen him as its next Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor.

*****

Canellakis, Mutter and the LPO at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 24th February

Anne-Sophie Mutter’s commanding presence meet the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s exceptional adaptability, yielding a concert that balances tradition-steeped authority with modern transparency, rhythmic vitality and the orchestra’s own electrifying spontaneity.

****1

Phoenix Lands: the London Philharmonic blazes with energy

Charlotte Gardner, 4th February

Edward Gardner’s Bacewicz, Martinů, Lutosławski and Janáček set the Royal Festival Hall ablaze.

****1

Jurowski and the LPO’s Mahler cycle reaches a momentous climax

Peter Quantrill, 24th January

Retrospection held at bay by the conductor’s unusual choice of Rudolf Barshai's completion to Mahler’s last symphony.

****1

Explosive performances from Vladimir Jurowski and the LPO

Chris Garlick, 21st January

Jurowski took a full-on approach in the first movement, grinding through the discords without shame and only pulling back in those rare moments in the score where everyone is catching their breath.

****1

Beth Taylor’s commanding Sea Pictures with the London Philharmonic

Nick Boston, 26th November

The dream team of Edward Gardner and the LPO are joined by Beth Taylor for a glorious evening of Elgar at the Royal Festival Hall.

*****

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Katy Wright

As News Editor at Rhinegold, Katy contributes news pieces and longer features to publications including Classical Music, Music Teacher and International Piano (both digital and print editions). She writes on a freelance basis for publications including Sinfini Music and TEMPO.

Thrilling French fare from the LPO and Juanjo Mena