April 2011

Thu 17 Apr 2011 - Kristjan Järvi/Vadim Gluzman

Brian Hayes
I thoroughly enjoyed the concert and agree with the press comments I have read.  It was good to see a conductor who wasn't afraid to show his personality and a soloist who seemed to wallow in the joyous music he was performing.  It was the LSO showing us how exciting such music can be.

Ioana Parry
The concert was brilliant, i forgot about everything else and concentrated only on music alone. indeed, Vadim Gluzman was memorable and the mariachi tunes: nostalgic, sad and fully of tears! Wonderful.

Kent Nystrom
I fully agree and endorse all the positive comments on this extra ordinary concert. I rank this performance on my top 3 list ( from the past 30 years) – the music, the soloist, the conductor (!!!) and last but not least ,  a well balanced orchestra with a delightful clang! Thank you!

Jonathan Gibbs
I have a confession. It's a sort of Personal Firebird Test. Whether the horn entry at the final tableau leaves me dry-eyed, slightly moist, or tears running down cheeks. Last night was a full, embarrassing, two-hankies' worth. Bravo Timothy Jones - and Kristjan Jarvi was so right to leap up and give you a hug! A truly stunning performance, dear wonderful amazing LSO, that was fresh and new and full of different insights. (After all, it's not as if you don't know the piece backwards - and it could so easily be a bit, well, routine.) And the Michael Daugherty was a real find, too - we must look out for more.

Despite the success with LSO Live (congratulations) it's good that last night wasn't being recorded. You had to be there!

Sun 3 Apr 2011 - Xian Zhang/Leila Josefowicz

Kim
I thought this a wonderful performance. However, the violin concerto was destroyed for me by the person sitting next to me who coughed loudly throughout. I mentioned it to the door attendant who acknowledged my concerns and moved me to another seat for the second half. This was a positive response but I had booked to hear Josefowicz so the night afforded a lot less enjoyment than it might have done. Not your fault as such but thought I'd share it with you as you'd invited comment.
 
The orchestra is playing well at the moment and I usually enjoy my visits to the Barbican more than I did last Sunday.