Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, Gemma Rosefield (’cello), Barry Wordsworth (conductor)

Austere liturgical tunes in Rimsky-Kosakov’s impressive ‘Russian Easter Festival Overture’, Ravel’s enigmatic ‘La Valse’, a parody waltz that ends in frenzy, and Saint-Saëns’ elegant first ’Cello Concerto, beautifully delivered by Gemma Rosefield, warmed us up nicely on this frozen March afternoon.

Stravinsky’s ‘The Rite of Spring’ upped the temperature considerably, revealing all Barry Wordsworth’s Royal Ballet experience. He maintained a driving, fluid pulse and dramatic tension, from the weird initial bassoon solo to that extraordinary last gasp of a chord, closing the season with an exhilarating, pagan cry for Spring.

Three cheers for next season’s schedule which was announced today!

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 24 March 2013

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