Prom 52: A thrilling journey of improvisation with Thierry Escaich

Tonight’s Orchestre de Paris Prom was very much a concert of two halves, in the first of which they got to show their sensitive, introspective side, reflecting on the nature of life and lamenting too-early death, then becoming considerably more extrovert in the second for some free-spirited buccaneering, and what the programme notes describe as “vivid, prolonged and grand noise”.

The second of this year’s Proms organ recitals was given by Thierry Escaich, the organist of St-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris, a performer continuing the centuries-long tradition of Parisian organist composers whose work is grounded in improvisation.

Le chef d'orchestre s'est montré très inspiré dans un programme riche et varié à la Philharmonie, avec Lisa Batiashvili, François Leleux et Thierry Escaich en invités de marque.

Hell holds no fury like a woman scorned, and it was certainly so in Greek mythology, celebrated in this outstanding Aldeburgh Festival performance by the Britten Sinfonia and Helen Charlston.

Vivid, full-bodied Tchaikovsky, passionate without losing its grammar, on a persuasive night for the KBS Symphony Orchestra.