London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko (conductor), Albrecht Menzel (violin)

Berlioz’ Overture for Béatrice et Bénédict made for a combative, luxuriant opening number, setting the scene for a spiky but bewitching rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Albrecht Menzel’s fidgety playing was a little disconcerting at first, but his fiery, dexterous technique ultimately won me over when he seemed to relax into the piece and was appropriate for the restlessly melodic work. Rimsky-Korsakov’s sprawling Scheherazade was rendered taut and precise by the ensemble, but also bolshy when required too, with a rippling brass section proving particularly memorable.

Brighton Dome Concert Hall, 24 February 2018

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