Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand” raises the Royal Albert Hall roof

Mahler's “Symphony of a Thousand” in the Royal Albert Hall

Vasily Petrenko conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Vasily Petrenko and vocal soloists

By David Truslove, 25 October 2022

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“roof-raising performance that Vasily Petrenko held together with sure-footed clarity and conviction”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 23 October 2022

Mahler, Symphony no. 8 in E flat major "Symphony of a Thousand"

Vasily Petrenko, Conductor

Sarah Wegener, Soprano

Jacquelyn Wagner, Soprano

Regula Mühlemann, Soprano

Jennifer Johnston, Mezzo-soprano

Claudia Huckle, Contralto

Vincent Wolfsteiner, Tenor

Benedict Nelson, Baritone

James Platt, Bass

Philharmonia Chorus

Bournemouth Symphony Chorus

City of London Choir

Tiffin Boys' Choir

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Turangalîla underwhelms at the Southbank’s Multitudes festival

Roy Westbrook, 23rd April

Serious music ill-matched by filmic limitations as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra tackles Messiaen’s epic “symphony” as part of the Southbank’s cross-genre festival.

**111

Edusei’s Beethoven and Rangwanasha’s Strauss thrill at Cadogan Hall

Christopher Woodley, 26th February

Kevin John Edusei, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra celebrate the joys of a life well-lived – rounded off to the sounds of larks ascending.

****1

Petrenko’s searing Shostakovich overshadows Grosvenor’s Beethoven

Nick Boston, 3rd February

Stylish Beethoven from Benjamin Grosvenor and dramatic Ustvolskaya from Yuriy Yurchuk, but Petrenko and the RPO’s blistering Shostakovich steals the show.

****1

Charisma and colour from Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic

Chris Garlick, 7th September

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s BBC Proms matinee proves an ideal opportunity to demonstrate their strengths in a programme of Respighi, Milhaud and Vaughan Williams.

****1

Perception-altering Shostakovich from Serebrennikov and Petrenko

Mark Pullinger, 27th April

As part of the Southbank Centre's Multitudes festival, Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony is given a stunning visual direction by Kirill Serebrennikov to match the RPO's gripping playing.

*****

A trio of exiled composers: Petrenko and the RPO at the RFH

David Truslove, 23rd March

Assured performances from the RPO as part of its ongoing “Lights in the Dark” series that brought career correspondences between three markedly different composers.

****1

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David Truslove

After many years as a musician – conducting choirs, singing as a lay clerk at Winchester Cathedral and an involvement in education, David now writes programme notes, occasionally composes and enjoys a busy schedule of reviewing.