Stolid performances from the Vienna Philharmonic

By Rohan Shotton, 10 September 2017

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“an animated figure... but this was rarely translated into genuine musical excitement”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 8 September 2017

Brahms, Variations on a Theme by Haydn in B flat major, Op.56a

Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 14 in E flat major, K449

Schubert, Impromptu no. 2 in A flat major, D.935

Beethoven, Symphony no. 7 in A major, Op.92

Delius, On hearing the first cuckoo in spring

Emanuel Ax, Piano

Vienna Philharmonic

Michael Tilson Thomas, Conductor

Shared language and living history: Zubin Mehta and the Vienna Phil

Chanda VanderHart, 19th March

Zubin Mehta, Pinchas Zukerman and the Vienna Philharmonic meet in repertoire they know intimately, illuminating it through mutual understanding.

*****

Vienna Philharmonic closes Carnegie residency

Edward Sava-Segal, 1st March

Andris Nelsons pairs Richard Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra with Sibelius’ Second Symphony to conclude the Vienna Philharmonic's latest Carnegie Hall residency.

****1

Contemplation and exuberance: Vienna Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall

Susan Stempleski, 28th February

Andris Nelsons conducts the Vienna Philharmonic in the New York premiere of a solemn, modernist work paired with two high-spirited symphonies from the 18th and 19th centuries.

****1

A vanished Old World with the Vienna Philharmonic in Hamburg

Mengguang Huang, 20th January

A Vienna Philharmonic evening conjures a vanished world: Strauss’ muscular drama and intimate humour, Haydn’s inward gravity and a graceful waltz to close.

****1

The Vienna Philharmonic explores Central Europe with Jakub Hrůša

Chanda VanderHart, 11th December

At the Konzerthaus, the Vienna Philharmonic travels across the Austrian borders with Jakub Hrůša into the varied sound worlds of Hungary, Bohemia and Moravia.

****1

Thielemann and the Vienna Philharmonic’s Bruckner 5 in Seoul

SangKwon Lee, 20th November

A tightly focused and cohesive Bruckner Fifth Symphony at the Seoul Arts Center as Christian Thielemann and the Vienna Philharmonic continue their Asian tour in compelling fashion.

*****

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Rohan Shotton

Rohan has reviewed concerts and opera across the UK and Europe, but chiefly in Manchester, where he enjoys conducting and playing percussion and piano. He works as a hospital doctor, having studied in St Andrews and Manchester, and tweets as @RohanShotton.

Prom 74: Stolid performances from the Vienna Philharmonic under Michael Tilson Thomas