fri 04/10/2024

BBC Proms: Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Chung | reviews, news & interviews

BBC Proms: Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Chung

BBC Proms: Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Chung

A Gallic invasion of the Proms offers both style and substance

Sibling rivalry: The charismatic Capuçon brothers face off in two concertos in two nights

Never has a French invasion of these shores been quite so welcome. The two-day siege currently being staged in the Royal Albert Hall by Myung-Whun Chung and his Orchestra Philharmonique de Radio France opened last night with patriotic fervour in an all-French programme. Even Beethoven’s Triple Concerto began rolling its “R”s when cajoled into life by the dashing Capuçon brothers. While their strongly accented interpretation may not have been to everyone’s taste, as an exhalation after the meditative intensity of Messiaen and Dusapin it was perfectly judged.

Never has a French invasion of these shores been quite so welcome. The two-day siege currently being staged in the Royal Albert Hall by Myung-Whun Chung and his Orchestra Philharmonique de Radio France opened last night with patriotic fervour in an all-French programme. Even Beethoven’s Triple Concerto began rolling its “R”s when cajoled into life by the dashing Capuçon brothers. While their strongly accented interpretation may not have been to everyone’s taste, as an exhalation after the meditative intensity of Messiaen and Dusapin it was perfectly judged.

Comments

I am mystified by the reference to Frank Braley returning with the Capuçon brothers in the Brahms Double Concerto. I hope this isn't another addition to a Brahms work, the Academic Festival Overture's choral ending was pointless enough!

Even if it does 'roll its rs', Beethoven's Triple Concerto can't be part of an 'all-French programme', can it?

Brian you are quite correct of course; I meant to say that the Capucons were returning with Chung, not Braley.

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