A dramatic Fantastique from the Orchestre National de Lille

Joshua Weilerstein conducts the Orchestre National de Lille

Edgar Moreau, Joshua Weilerstein and the Orchestre National de Lille

By Clare Varney, 18 July 2025

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“precise direction from the podium ensured that drama and theatre prevailed”

Reviewed at Concertgebouw: Main Hall, Amsterdam on 16 July 2025

Weinberg, Rhapsody on Moldavian themes for orchestra, Op.47 no. 1

Tchaikovsky, Variations on a Rococo Theme in A major, for cello and orchestra, Op.33

Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique, Op.14

Orchestre National de Lille

Joshua Weilerstein, Conductor

Edgar Moreau, Cello

Aušrinė Stundytė magnetic in Lille’s Makropulos Case

David Karlin, 5th February

Kornél Mundruczó brings the characters to life in Janáček’s drama of eternal youth; the brilliance of Dennis Russell Davies and the Orchestre National de Lille come close to overwhelming the proceedings.

****1

Alexandre Bloch bids a fond farewell to Orchestre National de Lille

Clare Varney, 10th July

After eight years, Music Director Alexandre Bloch conducts Brahms in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, with Noa Wildschut at the soloist in Bruch's First Violin Concerto.

***11

A shimmering kaleidoscope of sonority from the ONL

Mark Thomas, 29th January

Clarity and colour from Alexandre Bloch and the Orchestre National de Lille in Debussy and Ravel, with an elegant and majestic Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto from Eric Lu.

****1

L'ONL et Weilerstein entre deux mondes au Festival de Pâques d'Aix

Pierre Michel, 28th March

Entre le vieux monde de Brahms et celui des années 1930 de Barber et Barraine, le cœur des interprètes a balancé, laissant in fine une impression mitigée.

***11

Un Faust diablement captivant à l’Opéra-Comique

Pierre Michel, 21st June

Une mise en scène ingénieuse et subtile signée Denis Podalydès du « théâtre total » de cette version originale de Faust, avec une distribution emmenée par un Jérôme Boutillier irrésistible.

*****

« Le passé n’est jamais mort » : l’ONL à la Philharmonie

Chloë Rouge, 17th March

Avec son directeur musical Joshua Weilerstein, la formation lilloise a livré un programme poignant qui associait Un survivant de Varsovie de Schönberg et la Symphonie n° 13 « Babi Yar » de Chostakovitch.

****1

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Clare Varney

Clare is a freelance writer and music critic from the UK, currently living in the Netherlands where she writes about Music, Food and Culture. Clare is a passionate musician, having learnt the violin and piano from an early age. When not at her laptop writing, she spends her time nurturing the next generation of brass players, all from her Dutch kitchen in the sky. Read more at The Spidy Editor.

A dramatic Fantastique from the Orchestre National de Lille at the Concertgebouw