Manze and the Liverpool Phil illuminate Henry Wood’s orchestrations

The RLPO's “Forever Bells”

Graham Johns and the RLPO's “Forever Bells”

Timothy Ridout and Andrew Manze

By Leighton Jones, 27 September 2025

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“not a faithful transcription, but a sonic transformation”

Reviewed at Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool on 25 September 2025

Butterworth, A Shropshire Lad, rhapsody for string orchestra

Simpson, Hold Your Heart in Your Teeth (UK premiere)

Debussy, La Cathédrale engloutie (arr. Wood)

Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (arr. Wood)

Andrew Manze, Conductor

Timothy Ridout, Viola

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Dependable Mozart and Mendelssohn from the RLPO

Glyn Mon Hughes, 16th April

Aurel Dawidziuk and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra explore darkness and light, although the drama does not always bringing the audience to the edge of its collective seat.

***11

Paul Lewis balances delicacy with power in understated RLPO Beethoven

Glyn Mon Hughes, 12th March

Understatement is key in Paul Lewis' interpretation of Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic under Adam Hickox.

***11

Domingo Hindoyan's warm Bruckner 6 beguiles Liverpool

Peter Connors, 5th February

Schubert and Saint-Saëns provide an elegant first half before a change of tone and pace with Bruckner's Sixth Symphony.

****1

Sidorova mesmerises Liverpool with Tabakova’s Accordion Concerto

Glyn Mon Hughes, 22nd January

An unusual evening of orchestral virtuosity and an ear-opening adventure with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Andris Poga.

****1

Lozakovich, Foster and the RLPO: glorious Bruch and Tchaikovsky

Peter Connors, 4th December

Daniel Lozakovich captivated the audience in Liverpool with his Bruch; Lawrence Foster conducted the RLPO in superb performances of less familiar Liszt and Tchaikovsky.

*****

Hindoyan and Hough bring a new dream team to Liverpool

Glyn Mon Hughes, 27th November

Rachmaninov’s First Piano Concerto comes alive as Stephen Hough joins Domingo Hindoyan and the RLPO in an explosive performance of this dramatic work.

*****

More reviews...

Leighton Jones

Leighton has extensive teaching experience from early years to postgraduate level music. Currently he works as a primary music specialist, visiting instrumental teacher and examiner. As a pianist, he was inspired to play after hearing Moura Lympany at a young age and has a large collection of her recordings. Leighton’s postgraduate studies focussed on his interest in 20th-century English orchestral music, with particular study of Britten, Rawsthorne, Walton and Vaughan Williams. A keen choral singer he has developed a comprehensive knowledge of chiefly British choral music.

Grit and grandeur: Andrew Manze and the RLPO illuminate Henry Wood’s orchestrations