I just wrote a long detailed review of last night's South Bank Concert and then somehow lost it (must've pressed wrong button, made wrong incantation etc).
Royal Philharmonia (precise playing that's full of verve) conducted by Yakov Kriezberg (who seemed to be having immense fun throughout), playing Rossini's William Tell overture (replaced post-work rush with Bounce), Bruch's Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky Symphony #4. The latter had forceful brass (especially as we were sitting right behind the tuba, in thecheap choir seats) and was interesting, though didn't grab me.
The Bruch -- soloist Janine Jensen, playing a 1727 Stradivarius: maybe that was what made it so engaging -- was amazing. She's an intense player and at times seemed like a caricature of the passionate violinist: complicit looks exchanged with the orchestra, hunted expression during the first movement, a sense of conductor versus soloish though not orchestra versus violin. And in the third movement it all resolved: cheering, bright, exuberant music wrapping around the audience, or at least this bit of it.
Jensen (worth hearing if you get the chance, if I didn't make that clear) wore a gorgeous dress. Black velvet bodice, gold lamé skirt. I mention this only because it left her back bare to shoulderblade level. It was like an anatomy lesson: you could see every muscle group.
Royal Philharmonia (precise playing that's full of verve) conducted by Yakov Kriezberg (who seemed to be having immense fun throughout), playing Rossini's William Tell overture (replaced post-work rush with Bounce), Bruch's Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky Symphony #4. The latter had forceful brass (especially as we were sitting right behind the tuba, in the
The Bruch -- soloist Janine Jensen, playing a 1727 Stradivarius: maybe that was what made it so engaging -- was amazing. She's an intense player and at times seemed like a caricature of the passionate violinist: complicit looks exchanged with the orchestra, hunted expression during the first movement, a sense of conductor versus soloish though not orchestra versus violin. And in the third movement it all resolved: cheering, bright, exuberant music wrapping around the audience, or at least this bit of it.
Jensen (worth hearing if you get the chance, if I didn't make that clear) wore a gorgeous dress. Black velvet bodice, gold lamé skirt. I mention this only because it left her back bare to shoulderblade level. It was like an anatomy lesson: you could see every muscle group.