Tension until the bitter end: The Rite of Spring

By Chris Garlick, 16 May 2016

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“You could almost picture Stravinsky picking out the acid chords on his rickety piano”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 15 May 2016

Stravinsky, Symphonies of Wind Instruments

Stravinsky, Agon

Stravinsky, Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)

Philharmonia Orchestra

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor

Karole Armitage, Choreography

Megumi Eda, Dancer

Ahmaud Culver, Dancer

William Isaac, Dancer

Cristian Laverde Koenig, Dancer

Isabela Szylinska, Dancer

Emily Wagner, Dancer

A Resurrection for the ages: Kent Nagano conducts the Philharmonia

Eleanor Knight, 19th March

Any performance of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony is an event, but this mighty Philharmonia account at the Royal Festival Hall proves extra special.

*****

A brilliant UK premiere of John Adams’ After the Fall

David Karlin, 25th February

The Icelandic pianist and Finnish conductor make a superb case for John Adams' latest concerto; the Philharmonia play Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé strongly but don't convince completely.

****1

Renes replaces Runnicles in a remarkable Philharmonia Bruckner 8

Dominic Lowe, 19th February

Stepping in for Sir Donald Runnicles at very short notice, Lawrences Renes conducts the Philharmonia in a sleek and vivid reading of Bruckner's magisterial Eighth Symphony.

****1

Karpman’s opera Balls tells a great story, but overshoots the line

David Karlin, 20th November

An entertaining portrayal of the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs is marred by ham-fisted amplification.

**111

Giltburg and Foster celebrate the Philharmonia’s 80th birthday

Nick Boston, 17th November

Boris Giltburg emphasising the expression in not one but two piano concertos, with commanding performances from Lawrence Foster and the Philharmonia.

****1

Paavo Järvi and the Philharmonia: a debut and a swansong

Roy Westbrook, 9th November

Alena Baeva impresses in her belated Philharmonia debut, playing Max Bruch’s evergreen First Violin Concerto.

****1

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Chris Garlick

Chris Garlick is the co-founder of Signal Gallery in Hoxton. His first degree was in music, training as a classical composer. Chris has written about art frequently in Art of England magazine, Artist and Illustrator for online blogs.

Tension until the bitter end: Salonen and the Philharmonia devastate in The Rite of Spring