A Prom of two halves: Mark Wigglesworth and the Bournemouth SO

Nicholas McCarthy and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Mark Wigglesworth conducts the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

By Leighton Jones, 21 July 2025

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Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 20 July 2025

Shostakovich, Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra (arr. Atovmyan)

Ravel, Piano Concerto in D major for the left hand

Scriabin, Nocturne in D flat major for piano left hand, Op.9 no.2

Walton, Symphony no. 1 in B flat minor

Nicholas McCarthy, Piano

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Mark Wigglesworth, Conductor

Ning Feng’s Korngold is not quite a “Hollywood hit” in Poole

David Truslove, 26th November

Sian Edwards takes the helm of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in Britten, Korngold and Dvořák, with mixed results.

***11

Die Fledermaus at The Grange: Cabaret meets G&S

David Karlin, 20th June

A fine singing cast gives creditable performances in Johann Stauss II's most famous operetta, but Paul Curran's updating of Act 2 to 1930s Berlin takes the fizz out of the Champagne.

***11

Alena Baeva delivers transcendent Berg at The Anvil

David Truslove, 25th January

Polished playing and inspirational performances in Basingstoke that underline the exciting relationship between Mark Wigglesworth and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

*****

The Rake's Progress at The Grange: richly entertaining

David Karlin, 23rd June

Singing performances are excellent, the staging is well crafted and Stravinsky's eclectic score entertains from start to finish. But it's an evening's opera that doesn't touch the soul.

****1

Voices from the East: a musical marathon with a gripping finish

Peter Quantrill, 19th May

Kirill Karabits and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra present a day of composers from the former Soviet republics with heroic skill and stamina.

****1

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra head to “London Town”

David Truslove, 21st February

An evening of two halves, each demonstrating different facets of conductor, soloist and orchestra in performances of Brahms and Vaughan Williams.

****1

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Leighton Jones

Leighton has extensive teaching experience from early years to postgraduate level music. Currently he works as a primary music specialist, visiting instrumental teacher and examiner. As a pianist, he was inspired to play after hearing Moura Lympany at a young age and has a large collection of her recordings. Leighton’s postgraduate studies focussed on his interest in 20th-century English orchestral music, with particular study of Britten, Rawsthorne, Walton and Vaughan Williams. A keen choral singer he has developed a comprehensive knowledge of chiefly British choral music.