Manchester Evening News review 15 February 2016

BBC PHILHARMONIC  Bridgewater Hall

THERE’S no doubting the emotional appeal of Shostakovich’s ‘Leningrad’ symphony. A standing ovation from many in the audience greeted the Philharmonic and chief conductor Juanjo Mena at the end of Saturday night’s performance.

You might almost have thought they’d won the Second World War with it themselves. But that’s the attraction of a piece where we know the back story – probably the most straightforwardly heroic role of a piece of classical music in the 20^th century, as it was largely written in the besieged city in 1941 and then defiantly played by a half-starved orchestra and blasted over loudspeakers at the German troops. If we had Churchill’s speeches, they had Shostakovich’s music.

But what do you make of it in today’s world? It’s become good box office for orchestras: we hear it in Manchester fairly regularly, and the Hallé and Sir Mark Elder did it not so long ago and issued a CD, too.

Juanjo Mena made the most of its musical virtues and expertly covered its weaknesses, and was rewarded with superlative playing from the huge, expanded orchestra (with guest leader Gordan Tragkovic). If he obtained brutally sustained, pulsing mechanical noise in the ‘invasion theme’ section of the first movement, it was balanced by thoughtful, deeply felt playing in the static passages before and after it, with beautifully tuned clarity and gentle sensitivity.

The second movement was notable for eloquent solos and the finely balanced wind choir, and after the third brought telling stridency in its central section, the fourth had sustained, frenzied energy and contrasted it with magical quietness.

Its ending was wonderfully played and brought the crowd to their feet, as it was no doubt originally designed to do. Congratulations to all concerned for sheer stamina and commitment.

It all came as a real contrast with the first part of the concert – Bartók’s third piano concerto, delightfully played by soloist Dejan Lazić. From the very first paragraphs it was clear that here was a soloist prepared to make a contribution by musicality and not just show off.

He was fully equal to the piece, of course, but I admired the restraint of his playing as much as the brilliance that came with it. His contribution to the second movement built to a peak of heartfelt conviction, and there was, with Juanjo Mena’s help, a vividly episodic last movement and a thrilling finish.

****

Robert Beale