Weather Morning: 7°c Mostly cloudy Afternoon: 8°c Sunny spells

Music

London,

BBC Proms: Orchestre Philharmonique De Radio France/Chung

Description: Myung-Whun Chung conducts works by Messiaen and Saint-Saens. With organist Olivier Latry.



Rating: 4 out of 5 Fiona Maddocks's rating
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Reader rating

Your rating

one star two star three star four star five star

Click on a star to rate

Other reviews:

Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP

Phone: 0845401 5045

Website: www.royalalberthall.com

Extra info: Food, Pub

Transport: Tube: South Kensington/High Street Kensington Transport for London , Tube / Bus: 9, 10, 52, 70, 360 Transport for London

A touch of Paris in Proms

Chung
Rewarding prom: Orchestre Philarmonique de Radio France

By Fiona Maddocks
22 Jul 2008


A trio of great Parisian churches was the unifying factor at last night's rewarding Prom: the Madeleine, where Saint-Saëns was organist, the Trinité, where Messiaen held the same post and Notre-Dame, musical home of Olivier Latry, superb soloist in works by these two masters of the French organ tradition.

Saint-Saëns wrote his Symphony No3 "with organ" for London in 1886. A capacity audience listened attentively to the warmth and attack of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, with Latry providing gorgeous textures and pedal notes so low you detected them only because the whole building seemed to vibrate.

Earlier, the brilliant Latry played Messiaen's vast L'Ascension, for solo organ, with virtuosity, solemnity and Gallic wit, not a concept usually associated with this composer. Then brass, woodwind and percussion gave a spellbinding account of his Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum, perceptively conducted by Myung-Whun Chung. This meditation on death and resurrection is so stark and threatening it's as if the sky is thronged with ravens banging at the gates of heaven. Climaxes are so loud, even the players cover their ears.

Adding inadvertent drama, in the final massive chord, a gong flew off its stand just as the percussionist was beating the hell out of it. With perfect froideur, he switched to a different one and thrashed on. As for this year's lurid Albert Hall décor, if you ask me it's more death than resurrection.

Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.

Reader views (0)

 Add your view

No comments have so far been submitted.


Add your comment

 

Terms and conditions Make text area bigger You have  characters left.

We welcome your opinions. This is a public forum. Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.

For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.


 

Music top five
Cher Lloyd
Cher Lloyd

IndigO2
SE10
Apr 8, 7pm

Chris Rea

HMV Apollo
W6
Apr 5, 6.30pm

Miles Kane

HMV Forum
NW5
Apr 28, 7.30pm

Example

The O2 Arena
SE10
Apr 27, 6.30pm

Lightning Seeds

02 Shepherd's Bush Empire
W12
Feb 18, 7pm