NY Phil gives voice to the many facets of Shostakovich and Prokofiev

Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the New York Philharmonic

Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Seong-Jin Cho and the New York Philharmonic

By Edward Sava-Segal, 23 February 2025

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“performing with unbridled enthusiasm”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall, New York City on 21 February 2025

Shostakovich, Moscow, Cheryomushki (Cherrytown) (Selections Arr. Cornall)

Prokofiev, Piano Concerto no. 2 in G minor, Op.16

Shostakovich, Symphony no. 15 in A major, Op.141

Seong-Jin Cho, Piano

New York Philharmonic

Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Conductor

Elim Chan takes the New York Philharmonic to the ball

Susan Stempleski, 27th May

The Hong Kong-born conductor conducts a masterful performance of selections from Prokofiev’s Cinderella and Philharmonic Principal Carter Brey bids farewell in Saint-Saëns’ First Cello Concerto.

****1

Memorable Mendelssohn from Marek Janowski and the New York Phil

Susan Stempleski, 21st May

Principal Trumpet Christopher Martin plays Haydn before the esteemed German maestro conducts a vibrant Scottish Symphony.

****1

Barbara Hannigan makes a powerful connection in La Voix humaine

Thomas May, 23rd April

The Canadian soprano and conductor fuses live performance and video in a taut, volatile account of Poulenc’s punch-packing monodrama with the New York Philharmonic, sharing the bill with Strauss’ valedictory Metamorphosen.

****1

A vocally perplexing economics assignment from David Lang

No’a L. bat Miri, 19th March

The New York Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel deliver the world premiere of Lang's The wealth of nations, inspired by Adam Smith's famous treatise.

***11

Weinberg rarity overshadows John Williams at the New York Philharmonic

Cameron Kelsall, 1st March

John Williams put butts in seats with the New York debut of his Piano Concerto, but the NY Phil's first performances of Mieczysław Weinberg’s Symphony no. 5 stole the show.

****1

Contours in motion: Kavakos and Rouvali at the New York Philharmonic

Edward Sava-Segal, 20th February

Bartók and Rachmaninov are shaped through rhythmic precision and structural concentration in the New York Philharmonic's latest subscription concert.

****1

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Edward Sava-Segal

Edward has been living in New York for the last 25 years, one of the reasons being the extraordinarily rich cultural life in this city. He has studied piano and classical music in his early years. He switched later on to computer science and data architecture but he kept an unwavering interest in following the classical music phenomenon here in New York and in his travels. Edward occasionally reviews fine arts events for the most prestigious literary magazine in Romania, his home country.

Santtu-Matias Rouvali returns to the NY Phil for Prokofiev and Shostakovich