Passionate, ebullient Rachmaninov from Paavo Jarvi and the NHK

By Mark Pullinger, 25 February 2020

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“playing with a confident swagger right up to Rachmaninov’s punchy sign-off”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 24 February 2020

Takemitsu, How slow the wind, for orchestra

Schumann, Cello Concerto in A minor, Op.129

Vasks, Grāmata čellam (The Book of Cello) (Dolcissimo)

Rachmaninov, Symphony no. 2 in E minor, Op.27

Eller, 5 Pieces for String Orchestra (Homeland Tune)

Sol Gabetta, Cello

NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo

Paavo Järvi, Conductor

The NHK Symphony Orchestra explores its history in its centenary

Nahoko Gotoh, 24th April

As part of its centenary celebrations this season, the NHK Symphony Orchestra has curated a Japanese Composer Series with three intriguing concerts, of which this concert is the second.

****1

María Dueñas lets Beethoven breathe at Suntory Hall

SangKwon Lee, 19th September

María Dueñas’ Tokyo performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto is less about display than about the living drama between held breath and release.

*****

Luisi opens NHKSO's new season with Franz Schmidt

Nahoko Gotoh, 13th September

As a leading exponent of Franz Schmidt's music, conductor Fabio Luisi leads the NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo in a rare performance of his Fourth Symphony for the orchestra's season opener.

****1

A versatile NHK shines at Prague Spring

Frank Kuznik, 15th May

Conducted by Fabio Luisi, Japan's premier orchestra serves up a superb blend of Eastern and Western music and influences.

****1

Joyful Mozart from Ton Koopman and the NHK Symphony

Nahoko Gotoh, 21st September

At Suntory Hall, Ton Koopman and the NHK Symphony Orchestra bring elegance and exuberance to an all-Mozart programme including a flute concerto featuring its principal flautist.

****1

Luisi and the NHK SO begin partnership with a Requiem for our times

Nahoko Gotoh, 11th September

For whatever reason Fabio Luisi chose Verdi's Requiem for his inauguration concert with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo, it turned out to be an apt and poignant choice.

****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.