Russian composer Nikolai Medtner has been long compared to Rachmaninoff, finding himself, unfortunately, somewhat in the shadow of his contemporary.
His Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor was thus a bold choice for the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s conductor, Vladimir Jurowski.
Although not as well known as the concert’s second offering, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2, the delicate and unusual concerto was the highlight of the concert.
In turn gentle and smooth, dark and brooding, it was punctuated with dreamlike strings and dramatic crescendos.
Pianist Marc-André Hamelin was entrancing; bold and emotionally eloquent, and with faultless and virtuoso technical command.
Tchaikovsky’s symphony, unique for it’s five-movement structure and major key, is full of delightfully intricate and lively passages.
The orchestra brings to life the character of each movement, and the conversation-like melody in the fourth movement, shared between wind and strings, was handled particularly well.
Indeed, the orchestra’s musicianship and professionalism was demonstrated when all lights suddenly went out in the middle of the second movement.
Unable to see conductor or music, they stopped, but began again mid-phrase without so much as a blink when the lights returned.
A striking programme performed with tenderness and flair.
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