Beijing comes to London: Beijing Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall

By Madelaine Jones, 31 July 2012

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Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 29 July 2012

Guo Wenjing, Lotus Overture

Tang Jianping, Sacred Fire 2008, concerto for percussion and orchestra

Beethoven, Symphony no. 9 in D minor "Choral", Op.125

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Beijing Symphony Orchestra

Tan Lihua, Conductor

Li Biao, Percussion

Rebecca Evans, Soprano

Ning Liang, Mezzo-soprano

Andrew Kennedy, Tenor

Matthew Rose, Bass

London Philharmonic Choir

Karabits and Szeps-Znaider carouse with the LPO

Christopher Woodley, 8th April

The sparkle of Max Bruch's Fecond Violin Concerto and the drama of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony overcome the gloom of Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s dark forebodings.

****1

Portraits and pictures from Ibragimova, Gardner and the LPO

Roy Westbrook, 1st April

From Three Screaming Popes to Pictures at an Exhibition, a pair of works inspired by paintings frame a violin concerto by Béla Bartók at London's Southbank Centre.

****1

Ticciati and the LPO deliver epic Sibelius plus lively Wennäkoski

Nick Boston, 25th March

Sibelius' Kullervo receives a dramatic performance from Ticciati and the LPO, with strong turns from Shenyang, Miina-Liisa Värelä and the YL Male Voice Choir.

****1

Paavo Järvi marks his new LPO appointment in Tchaikovsky and Sibelius

Mark Valencia, 4th March

Paavo Järvi demonstrates just why the London Philharmonic Orchestra has chosen him as its next Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor.

*****

Canellakis, Mutter and the LPO at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 24th February

Anne-Sophie Mutter’s commanding presence meet the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s exceptional adaptability, yielding a concert that balances tradition-steeped authority with modern transparency, rhythmic vitality and the orchestra’s own electrifying spontaneity.

****1

Phoenix Lands: the London Philharmonic blazes with energy

Charlotte Gardner, 4th February

Edward Gardner’s Bacewicz, Martinů, Lutosławski and Janáček set the Royal Festival Hall ablaze.

****1

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Madelaine Jones

Madelaine is a pianist and writer studying at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. As a winner of the Gladys Puttick Improvisation Competition as part of a dance-piano duo, she has an active interest in cross-arts collaboration. Visit here to find out more.