Ibragimova's Mendelssohn a tad too delicate for Schwarz and the BBCNOW

Elena Schwarz
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Alina Ibragimova (violin)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Lesley Hatfield (leader)
Elena Schwarz (conductor)

7pm, Tuesday 4 August 2026
BBC Proms
Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★

Zimmermann, Bernd Alois (1918-1970): Märchen-Suite
Mendelssohn, Felix (1809-1847): Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
Dvořák, Anton (1842-1904): Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70

Alina Ibragimova
& the BBC National Orchestra of Wales
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Zimmermann:

'Schwarz’s larger-than-life gestures encouraged the orchestra to put their full weight behind it. Elsewhere, the strings went from pianissimo shimmering to screaming forte, against shining brass and mysterious, atmospheric woodwinds, in an overall engaging performance of this curiousity'.

Mendelssohn:

'Ibragimova’s risk-taking dynamics were definitely worth it, drawing the whole hall in for her intimate cadenza, and for her passionately singing slow movement'.

'Some of the time, Schwarz managed to get the orchestra to match Ibragimova’s dynamic range, but elsewhere, it was like the orchestra hadn’t got the memo'.

Dvořák:

'Schwarz felt freer to give big gestures and allow the horns to lead the fuller sound in the opening movement'. 

Elena Schwarz
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

'The finale fizzed with rattling horns and beefy trombones, building to a triumphant finish, although the slide into the final chords felt a tad rushed – blink and it was all over'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.