Brilliance and excitement in Salonen’s Webern, Mahler and Wagner

By Young-Jin Hur, 10 August 2018

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“a full blooded Romantic vehicle, replete with palpable bass and sensual abandon”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 9 August 2018

Webern, Five Pieces For Orchestra, Op.10

Mahler, Symphony no. 10 in F sharp major: Adagio

Wagner, Die Walküre: Act 1

Anja Kampe, Soprano

Robert Dean Smith, Tenor

Franz-Josef Selig, Bass

Philharmonia Orchestra

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor

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

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

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Young-Jin Hur

Young-Jin Hur is a PhD candidate in psychology at University College London, researching themes in aesthetics centred around the sublime. An ardent CD collector, Young-Jin finds much affection in symphonic and orchestral works from between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries, especially of Austro-German, Nordic, and Russian traditions, and in sacred vocal music. He also writes for MusicWeb, Corymbus, and Seoul Arts Center. He tweets at @yjhur1885 and blogs at Where Cherries Ripen.

Prom 36: Brilliance and excitement in Salonen’s Webern, Mahler and Wagner with the Philharmonia