Recalling the heyday of Imperial Russia

By Roy Westbrook, 02 March 2018

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“a revelatory experience”

Reviewed at Cadogan Hall, London on 1 March 2018

Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture

Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto no. 3 in D minor, Op.30

Tchaikovsky, Symphony no. 4 in F minor, Op.36

Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker, Op.71: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Tchaikovsky, The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz

Valentina Lisitsa, Piano

Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra

Valery Polyansky, Conductor

Fate, Falla and fandangos: LSO fiesta

Mark Pullinger, 18th January

Sunday night is fiesta night, or so it seemed at the Barbican, where the London Symphony took us on a whirlwind tour from Seville in Andalucia to the Asturias.

***11

La Verdi: Modernism meets Romanticism

James Imam, 3rd October

Whilst tonight's performance of Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony was polished and highly accomplished, it was Prokofiev's Piano Concerto no. 2 that really quickened our pulses.

****1

Prom 65: Wars on the ground and in space at the Film Music Prom

Julia Savage, 31st August

Hot on the heels of this year’s Hollywood Rhapsody Prom came its less glamorous, perhaps geekier sibling, the Film Music Prom. There was less of the fanfare and opulence here; this was about the silver screen (and by that, I don’t mean the sort that is coming back into use for 3D films) and sci-fi.

***11

Valentina Lisitsa captivates her Toronto audience with poise and electricity

Patrick P.L. Lam, 9th December

With one week’s notice, Horacio Gutiérrez was indisposed and cancelled his much-anticipated piano recital at Toronto’s Koerner Hall. In his place, it was Valentina Lisitsa to the rescue, the sensational pianist who has now had over 50 million views on her YouTube channel, giving her the status of a rock star.

****1

Valentina Lisitsa's Royal Albert Hall Debut

Madelaine Jones, 19th June

With more than 30 million YouTube channel views, there is simply no doubt that Valentina Lisitsa is already a classical music star to contend with.

*****

Hahn at the Hall

Helen Fraser, 18th May

If the Cadogan Hall’s “Celebrity Recital Series” conjures up unwelcome memories of Jordan’s brief career as a singer, never fear: the Hall has attracted a very different type of famous figure. Hilary Hahn is as unlike Katie Price as could be imagined: small, dark and unassuming, you could pass her in the street without a second glance.

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.

Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra recalls the heyday of Imperial Russia