An uncreative response to justified criticism: Shostakovich in Oslo

By Aksel Tollåli, 09 February 2016

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Reviewed at Oslo Concert Hall (Konserthus), Oslo on 5 February 2016

Grieg, 17 Norwegian Folk Dances (Slåtter): Gangar, Op.72 no.6

Grieg, Lyric Pieces: Notturno, Op.54 no.4

Grieg, Lyric Pieces: March of the trolls, Op.54 no.3

Sibelius, Violin Concerto in D minor, Op.47

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

Sibelius, Valse triste, Op.44 no.1

Khachaturian, Gayaneh: Lezghinka

Oslo Philharmonic

Vasily Petrenko, Conductor

Henning Kraggerud, Violin

Virtuosity and volume: Oslo Phil plays Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich

Chanda VanderHart, 22nd January

Batiashvili’s account of the Tchaikovsky concerto confirms why she remains one of the most compelling violinists of her generation.

***11

Batiashvili, Mäkelä and the Oslo Philharmonic in Hamburg

Mengguang Huang, 18th January

A last-minute programme change doubles Batiashvili’s Tchaikovsky at the Elbphilharmonie, but repetition is transformed into fresh revelation.

****1

A high Klaus operation: Mäkelä and the Oslo Philharmonic

David Karlin, 23rd October

In their home concert hall under their Chief Conductor, the Oslo Philharmonic produce a high quality performance of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony.

****1

Superstar performances from Yuja Wang and Klaus Mäkelä in Edinburgh

David Smythe, 22nd August

Yuja Wang plays both Ravel piano concertos with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra at the Edinburgh International Festival.

*****

Mäkelä leads his Oslo troops in a gripping Shostakovich 5

Mark Pullinger, 25th May

Leif Ove Andsnes joins the Oslo Philharmonic in dynamic Rachmaninov before high-energy Shostakovich closes the season.

****1

With a fine Oslo Philharmonic, Yuja Wang wows the Proms

David Karlin, 12th August

Yuja Wang lives up to her superstar status in Liszt and a couple of operatic encores, while the Oslo Philharmonic show icy clarity in Sibelius and orchestral colour aplenty in Strauss.

****1

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Aksel Tollåli

Aksel is currently studying towards a degree in musicology at the University of Oslo. At the moment he is an exchange student at Goldsmiths College in London. He is also a choral singer and a trombonist. His musical interests include 20th-cenury French music, Baroque opera and the music of Richard Strauss.