London Symphony Orchestra, Gergiev, Royal Albert Hall | reviews, news & interviews
London Symphony Orchestra, Gergiev, Royal Albert Hall
London Symphony Orchestra, Gergiev, Royal Albert Hall
Gergiev's Russian tales fail to seduce at the Proms
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Gergiev: pastel-coloured performance of primary-coloured musicMarco Boggreve
On paper it was a perfect Monday night programme – Scriabin’s extravagant sprawl of a First Symphony and Stravinsky’s The Firebird in its roomy original ballet score. A pairing of youthful 20th-century Russians conducted by the 21st-century Russian. Barely recovered from Sunday’s sensuous binge of Mussorgsky, Shostakovich and Prokofiev, Gergiev and the LSO promised some welcome hair of the dog. Yet by the time the inevitable Proms standing ovation shifted to its feet something was still lacking; mellow we certainly were. Intoxicated? Not even close.
On paper it was a perfect Monday night programme – Scriabin’s extravagant sprawl of a First Symphony and Stravinsky’s The Firebird in its roomy original ballet score. A pairing of youthful 20th-century Russians conducted by the 21st-century Russian. Barely recovered from Sunday’s sensuous binge of Mussorgsky, Shostakovich and Prokofiev, Gergiev and the LSO promised some welcome hair of the dog. Yet by the time the inevitable Proms standing ovation shifted to its feet something was still lacking; mellow we certainly were. Intoxicated? Not even close.
Share this article
Add comment
The future of Arts Journalism
You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!
We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d
And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
more Classical music
Josefowicz, LSO, Mälkki, Barbican review - two old favourites and one new one
Julia Perry well worth her place alongside Stravinsky and Bartók
Classical CDs: Jelly Babies, porridge and kazoos
German art songs, French piano concertos and entertaining contemporary music
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Wigmore Hall review - too big a splash in complete Ravel
Panache but little inner serenity in a risky three-part marathon
Karim Said, Leighton House review - adventures from Byrd to Schoenberg
The Jordanian pianist presents a magic carpet of dizzyingly contrasting styles
Stile Antico, Wigmore Hall review - a glorious birthday celebration
Early music group passes a milestone still at the top of its game
Hallé, Elder, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - premiere of new Huw Watkins work
Craftsmanship and appeal in this 'Concerto for Orchestra' - and game-playing with genre
First Person: young cellist Zlatomir Fung on operatic fantasies old and new
Fresh takes on Janáček's 'Jenůfa' and Bizet's 'Carmen' are on the menu
Classical CDs: Chinese poetry, rollercoasters and old bookshops
Swiss contemporary music, plus two cello albums and a versatile clarinettist remembered
La Serenissima, Wigmore Hall review - a convivial guide to 18th century Bologna
This showcase for baroque trumpets was riveting throughout
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Wigmore Hall review - family fun, fire and finesse
Intimacy and empathy in a varied mixture from the star siblings
Mahler 8, LPO, Gardner, RFH review - lights on high
Perfect pacing allows climaxes to make their mark - and the visuals aren’t bad, either
Philharmonia, Alsop, RFH / Levit, Abramović, QEH review - misalliance and magical marathon
Kentridge’s film for Shostakovich 10 goes its own way, but a master compels in his 13th hour of Satie
Comments
...
...
...
...