Dukas
L’Apprenti sorcier – symphonic scherzo after Goethe
Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No.3 in D-minor, Op.30
Berlioz
Symphonie fantastique, Op.14
Denis Kozhukhin (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Paavo Järvi
Reviewed by: David Truslove
Reviewed: 3 June, 2018
Venue: Southbank Centre, London – Royal Festival Hall
Were it not for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (and Walt Disney’s Fantasia with Mickey Mouse), the very self-critical Paul Dukas would probably be only known to those familiar with La Péri, Ariane et Barbe-bleue or the Symphony in C. Paavo Järvi conjured an assured and atmospheric Sorcerer, its colourful palette opening out gloriously from a tension-filled opening. His scrupulous approach allowed for plenty of mischief (including a perky bassoon), wild abandon (an exuberant piccolo adding to the brouhaha) and poignancy (a tender viola) – altogether impressive and invigorating.
Much the same could be said for a gripping performance of Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto – an Everest. Yet its fearsome demands are tempered by a dreaming delicacy; two facets superbly articulated by Denis Kozhukhin who valiantly met its challenges head on – the ebb and flow, blood and thunder oratory and wistful intimacies – bounded by an unaffected directness of expression and an integrity of vision aided and abetted by a well-balanced Philharmonia, Järvi coaxing subtle woodwind colouration and allowing passion to spill over at significant moments. A poetically-shaped ‘Intermezzo’ drew eloquence and brilliance, and rumination and variable excitement found their way into the Finale, the measured tempo just denying something edge-of-the-seat, but compensation came in the thunderous closing pages when piano and an unbridled orchestra locked horns to produce a grandstand finish. As an encore Kozhukhin offered ‘Til våren’ (To Spring), the sixth and final piece of Grieg’s Opus 43 set of Lyric Pieces, elegant and understated.
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- Philharmonia Orchestra information:
Freephone 0800 652 6717 - Southbank Centre www.southbankcentre.co.uk