Philharmonia Orchestra – Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano), John Wilson (conductor)

Under John Wilson’s wonderfully clear conducting, the Brighton Festival Chorus made Bernstein’s ‘Chichester Psalms’ seem effortless, so alert and responsive was their performance. Solo treble Leo Blair, Tony and Cherie’s youngest son, heroically sang almost to the back of the hall. Jean-Efflam Bavouzet completed the first half jubilantly with Ravel’s ‘Piano Concerto’. Could it get any better?

Bavouzet joined the audience to find out. The Philharmonia simply dazzled in Bernstein’s ‘Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront’ and then the BFC joined in with Stravinsky’s intense ‘Symphony of Psalms’ concluding a programme worthy of the Festival’s long tradition of great concerts.

Brighton Dome Concert Hall, 24 May 2014

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