Prom 34: atmospheric Thorvaldsdottir and intimate Elgar from BBC Philharmonic

Eva Ollikainen
© Chris Christodoulou

Kian Soltani (cello)

BBC Philharmonic

Eva Ollikainen (conductor)

7.30pm, Thursday 11 August 2022

BBC Prom 34

Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★★

Anna Thorvaldsdottir (b.1977): ARCHORA

 

Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85

 

Encore: 

Trad., arr. Kian Soltani (b.1992): ‘Lovely Minka, I must away’

 

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43

Anna Thorvaldsdottir & Eva Ollikainen
© Chris Christodoulou

Thorvaldsdottir:
'Ollikainen steered the BBC Philharmonic players through this dark landscape with a clear and expansive beat. Thorvaldsdottir uses the orchestra to create remarkably haunting atmospheres and textures'.

Elgar:

'Soltani's Elgar was strong, with command of the virtuosic demands a given and expressively singing tone in the slower moments'.

'Ollikainen succeeded in bringing each (tutti) back to allow for Soltani’s attention to detail to shine through'.

Kian Soltani
© Chris Christodoulou

Sibelius:
'Nothing was overplayed or forced, and there was thoughtful attention to detail throughout'.

'There were moments where Ollikainen drove proceedings with greater energy, such as the immediate pulsing energy of the opening, and encouraging intensity of response from the violins in the build to the big tune'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Impressive and inspiring Anglo-American cooperation - BBC Prom 6

Edward Gardner
© Chris Christodoulou

James Ehnes (violin)
Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music and The Juilliard School
Edward Gardner (conductor)

Monday 22 July, 7.30 pm

BBC Prom 6

Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★★


Anna Thorvaldsdottir (b.1977): Metacosmos (UK premiere)

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): Violin Concerto, Op. 15

Encore:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Andante, from Sonata in A minor for solo violin, BWV1003

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): The Rite of Spring

Encore:
Oliver Knussen (1952-2018): Flourish with Fireworks, Op. 22

Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Edward Gardner
& the Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music
and The Julliard School
© Chris Christodoulou

Thorvaldsdottir:
'A remarkable piece, showing such command of large orchestral forces ... unsettlingly moving'.

Britten:
'Ehnes held the Royal Albert Hall rapt ... he delivered the preceding Scherzo with flourish and a dancing step'.

Stravinsky:
'Gardner marshalled forces for the final onslaught and elicited a wild, terrifying final sacrificial dance from the massed orchestral forces'.

Knussen:
'The combined student forces demonstrated considerable virtuosic command to conclude an impressive night’s performance'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.