Nielsen’s flute concerto, a Miraculous Mandarin, and a Mermaid

By Carla Finesilver, 11 November 2011

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Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 9 November 2011

Bartók, The Miraculous Mandarin, Op.19: Suite

Nielsen, Concerto for Flute and Orchestra FS 119

Zemlinsky, Die Seejungfrau (The Mermaid), symphonic fantasia after Hans Christian Andersen

London Symphony Orchestra

Xian Zhang, Conductor

Gareth Davies, Flute

Han Kang’s The White Book takes on a compelling new life

Peter Quantrill, 5th March

At the Barbican, Laura Bowler's new work for Barbara Hannigan translates Han Kang's novel into a soundscape of icy stillness

****1

A curious evening from Noseda, Kopatchinskaja and the LSO

Mark Valencia, 26th February

Good, bad, but never ugly, a curious evening unfolds at the Barbican, inspired at times, ill-judged in places.

***11

Borodin steps into the symphonic limelight: Noseda and the LSO

Mark Pullinger, 15th February

Seong-Jin Cho continues his Artist Portrait series with the LSO by performing Chopin's poetic Second Piano Concerto.

****1

Rattle and the LSO sell a travel package to Hungary and Spain

Roy Westbrook, 18th January

Opening her LSO Artist Portrait series, Patricia Kopatchinskaja plays Béla Bartók’s Second Violin Concerto before Rattle and the LSO whisk the audience to Falla’s Andalusia.

****1

Rare Vaughan Williams from Pappano and the LSO

Chris Garlick, 7th December

Tchaikovsky and Vaughan Williams make rare bedfellows, but Pappano's grip on these disparate scores impresses, with the London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra on wondrous form.

****1

Top drawer French music from Ott, Bloch and the LSO

Roy Westbrook, 27th November

Debussy and Ravel frame a performance of Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra as Alexandre Bloch guests with the London Symphony Orchestra.

****1

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Carla Finesilver

Carla loves music and mathematics, studied both, and now combines working in maths education with playing the flute in a variety of amateur and semi-professional orchestras, chamber and operatic groups. Particular interests include woodwind instruments and 20th-century composers. She lives in London and blogs at silverfin.