Philharmonia Orchestra

A programme of Bernstein, Ravel and Stravinsky made for a gloriously powerful evening of music, driven forward by conductor John Wilson who seemed hell bent on milking every last drop from the Philharmonia Orchestra, and indeed did so. The excellent rendition of ‘Chichester Psalms’ lacked only the the haunting acoustic afforded by ecclesiastical architecture, and that too might have lifted the power of Leo Blair’s charming treble voice. Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s rendering of the Ravel was never short of energy, even in the most delicate moments, and what excellent programming to put this alongside the ‘Symphonic Suite’ from On The Waterfront and expose the massive influence he had on screen music and American composition. Finishing with a forceful performance of Stravinsky’s ‘Symphony of Psalms’ that once again highlighted the talents of the Brighton Festival Chorus, the evening ended on a high that felt unsurpassable. For those of us who went on to hear Metamorphosen, we had higher points to reach.

Brighton Dome Concert Hall, 24 May 2014

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