Style, vibrancy and vitality from John Wilson and the LSO

John Wilson
© London Symphony Orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra

John Wilson (conductor)

Streamed Thursday 8 April 2021, 7pm at MarqueeTV

(available free for 7 days, then on demand through subscription)

Recorded 11 March 2021

LSO St Luke's, London

★★★★

Richard Rodney Bennett (1936-2012): Partita

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): Valses nobles et sentimentales

George Gershwin (1898-1937), arr. Robert Russell Bennett (1894-1981): Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture

John Wilson & the LSO
© London Symphony Orchestra

Bennett:

'A great opening to this concert showcasing Wilson’s tight, detailed approach and the LSO’s commitment to precision and excellence'.

Ravel:

'Wilson and the LSO players relished in the silky textures and surging waves, with delicate precision in the many solo wind passages'.

Gershwin:

'Wilson showed his command, steering the LSO through the frequent mood changes, and handling the contrasting rhythms and tempi shifts without letting the joins show'.

'The Finale was infectiously joyous, with bright brass and fulsome strings. An uplifting conclusion to an evening full of warmth, fun and vitality'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Darkly intense Berg from Kavakos, with uplifting Schubert from Rattle and the LSO

Leonidas Kavakos
© London Symphony Orchestra

Leonidas Kavakos (violin)

London Symphony Orchestra

Sir Simon Rattle (conductor)

Streamed Thursday 21 January 2021 at Marquee TV

(available free for 7 days, then on demand through subscription)

Recorded Thursday 7 January 2021

LSO St Luke's, London

★★★★

Alban Berg (1885-1935): Violin Concerto 'To the Memory of an Angel'

Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Symphony No. 9 in C major D944, 'The Great'

Sir Simon Rattle & the LSO
© London Symphony Orchestra

Berg:

'His incisive virtuosity brought a moving intensity'. 

'Kavakos’ effortless cadenza passages, with a tolling solo line combined with fiendish left hand pizzicato, was captured well by close-up camerawork and his lament, joined by the bassoons, was heartrending'.

Juliana Koch
© London Symphony Orchestra

Schubert:

'Rattle’s Andante (often taken too slowly) had energy, yet it didn’t feel rushed'.

'Through the endless stream of Schubert’s ideas, Rattle maintained the momentum, driving through with the racing strings to blazing trumpets and a glorious finish'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.