Music fit for royalty
- Source: Global Times
- [09:51 August 20 2010]
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The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: Courtesy of Liu Shuyun
By Hu Bei
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), one of the greatest orchestras of the world, is entranc-ing Shanghai audiences with its precision and unique warm sound this week.
On Wednesday night the orchestra performed an all Russian program in the Music Summer in the Air (MISA) tent on Fenyang Road - presenting Tchaikovsky's Polonaise (from Eugene Onegin), his Piano Concerto No.1, and Shostakovich's Symphony No.5.
Russian-born pianist Kirril Gerstein reunited with the orchestra and artistic director conductor, Charles Dutoit, to produce a ravishing romantic account of the Tchaikovsky concerto, evoking all the passion and power that the work demands.
The orchestra's power and discipline shone forth throughout the concert, reveling especially in the grandiloquence and eloquence the Shostakovich demands.
Tomorrow night at the Shanghai Grand Theater, the orchestra will present Sibelius's Finlandia, Korngold's Violin Concerto (with Dutoit's wife, the Canadian violinist, Chantel Juillet), and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique.
One of the UK's most prestigious orchestras, the RPO was the vision of the orchestra's brilliant founder, the legendary Sir Thomas Beecham.
In 1946, Sir Thomas Beecham, who was a major influence on the musical life of Britain, founded the orchestra and remained musical director until his death in 1961.
Then followed a veritable Who's Who of music: Rudolf Kempe took over until 1975 and then, for varying periods, came Antal Doráti, Walter Weller, André Previn, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Daniele Gatti.
Now the baton is being carried by Maestro Dutoit, the brilliant Swiss conductor who is in demand by leading orchestras throughout the world.
Throughout a career that has spanned the globe and mined the riches of the orchestral repertoire, Dutoit has exhibited a passion for excellence and discovery.
Renowned for his polished and idiomatic interpretations of an eclectic array of musical styles, he has worked with the world's pre-eminent orchestras and soloists.
