Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, Joseph Moog (piano), Ben Gernon (conductor)
The BPO Sunday afternoon concert was a brilliant programme that showcased all of their strengths. Rossini’s overture for The Barber of Seville was bright, bold and voluminous, with some vociferous cello playing the highlight. Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor was even more engrossing, Joseph Moog joyously pounding the piano for both dramatic and melodic effect in the first movement while being more spacious and evocative in the second. Fulsome brass in the final movement rounded off a splendid rendition. Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 featured some dexterous, determined first violins. It didn’t quite capture the majesty of the concerto but was still a strong finale to a fantastic performance.
Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 15 January 2017
Rating: 
Joe Fuller
It was a super concert and all involved should be proud and pleased (if such is allowed now in The New Great Protector’s reign…..) – the Greig was poetic and grandiose by turns, and played brilliantly, but not flashily, by Joseph. The Dvorak I think worked well, and the orchestra and conductor had much of interest to say and show about a work which completely explodes with melodic content, festooned as it is by hummable -ear-worms, if not rigorous structure. And the nice acoustic of the Dome on top of all that, both figuratively, and literally. 4/5 stars is right.