Heavenly Mozart plus a cadenza world premiere from Mao Fujita

Mao Fujita and the Philharmonia

By Charlotte Gardner, 22 March 2025

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“innocent music, albeit of an old-soul emotional intelligence”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 20 March 2025

Mazzoli, These Worlds in Us

Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 25 in C major, K503

Mozart, Piano Sonata no. 16 in C major, K545 (Allegro)

Mendelssohn, Symphony no. 5 in D major, "Reformation", Op.107

Mao Fujita, Piano

Philharmonia Orchestra

Osmo Vänskä, Conductor

Classical grace and Romantic eloquence from the Philharmonia

Christopher Woodley, 7th May

The contrasting delights of Schumann, Brahms and Dvořák are powerfully evoked in performances of charm, eloquence and high drama from the Philharmonia, continuing the orchestra’s 80th anniversary celebrations.

****1

Benedetti ablaze with the Philharmonia

Christopher Woodley, 19th April

As gifts to the Philarmonia's 80th birthday season, Nicola Benedetti gives a barnstorming account of Elgar's Violin Concerto before Cristian Mӑcelaru gets emotionally drained by La Mer.

*****

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

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Charlotte Gardner

Charlotte Gardner is a music critic and journalist regularly to be found in specialist music publications including Gramophone (where she specialises in strings and Baroque), The Strad and Classical Music magazine, and writing concert programme notes for organisations including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Before turning to writing she spent eight years at the BBC, the final years of which were in News, on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. She holds a Music MA from the University of Cambridge.