[concert] Sibelius / Grieg / (Rachmaninoff): RFH, Ashkenazy / Lugansky

Sibelius' Pelleas et Melisande rather less Impressionist than Debussy's ... distinctly Sibelius, shimmery strings and rumbling bass, reminiscent in places of Finlandia: some lovely passages but didn't really gel.
Grieg Piano Concerto #1, with Nikolai Lugansky, is (as someone said about Hamlet) full of clichés. There are some phrases that made me perk up -- especially the bit just before the finale, which is joyous and lyrical -- but overall a bit too lush, decadent, romantic for me. Ashkenazy didn't seem to be very engaged either: he was subdued, uninteresting to watch.

Then we skipped the Rachmaninoff (Symphony #2) in favour of an early night for me and getting-home-before-midnight for ladymoonray and swisstone, who had mother-tending and cat-feeding duties.

To be broadcast on Radio 3, 7pm Tues 9th November.