None More Heavy Than Russian Stalwarts ; Kirov Orchestra Symphony Hall

Summary

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Stamina is the name of the game. Orchestral playing is not for wimps, especially for heavy Wagner and Tchaikovsky on tour. A change from ubiquitous all-Russian programmes from these visitors was most refreshing.

Valery Gergiev and his stalwart band began their marathon with a somewhat uninvolved rendering of Lohengrin's Act 1 Prelude. Directionfrom the tiniest finger-sized, needle-thin stick ever seen on a concert platform was little help for players at and on the edge. A new eccentricity one wonders, or simply a broken baton?

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None More Heavy Than Russian Stalwarts ; Kirov Orchestra Symphony Hall

The Ride of the Valkyries, a familiar musical cliche, needed mor...

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