The Philharmonia Orchestra, one of the jewels in the Southbank Centre’s currently somewhat shaky crown, is marking its 80th anniversary with a season of global delights. There has been a coast-to-coast US tour, a Far East expedition and a whistle-stop zoom through many of Europe’s finest halls. Last night’s concert, however, might have been a fitting celebration on its own.
On the podium was Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Philharmonia’s conductor laureate; at the piano was the Icelandic star Víkingur Ólafsson; and the UK premiere of a new work from John Adams rubbed shoulders with one of Salonen’s “signature” pieces, Ravel’s 1912 ballet score Daphnis et Chloé.
The Adams piano concerto “After the Fall” was written especially for Ólafsson and opens with magical sonorities from the substantial percussion section into which the soloist’s musings soon blend. “Fall” has multiple references, from Milton’s Paradise Lost to Adams’ admiration of a concerto by his son, Samuel Carl Adams, called “No Such Spring”, but the piece is also living proof that the concerto form has lost none of its enticing glamour. Its three sections, played without a break, unfold in just under half an hour – and it’s a good sign that it seems over too soon.
The Philharmonia Orchestra celebrates its 80th anniversary this year (Photo: Marc Gascoigne)There is ample virtuosity for Ólafsson to navigate, but it’s not primarily a showy work. It comes across as collegial and open-hearted, with nods to plush, romantic strings alongside Adams’ spiky, darkly glinting palette, and a striking final section in which he puts Bach’s Prelude in C minor through a fairground hall of distorting, transformative mirrors. Salonen steered a steady course, while Ólafsson’s performance was cool-headed and assured. As encore, he played his own transcription of Bach’s “Air on the G String”, very soft, utterly exquisite.
Yet the new concerto, like much other fine music, could scarcely help being rather eclipsed by the Ravel – and Salonen’s Daphnis had the full measure of this luxurious Mediterranean fantasy. It is based on an ancient Greek story that is all too human: the hero and heroine’s innocence is increasingly threatened by predators, from a sophisticated townie to marauding pirates, and a happy ending is only secured via divine intervention from Pan.
Salonen embraced the work’s complete spectrum: the lurking darkness, the awe of the supernatural, and full rein to the headily refulgent musical sunrise. The Philharmonia’s world-class woodwind merited special plaudits, notably first flute Samuel Coles and rock-solid cor anglais Rebecca Kozam, but the whole ensemble – even that tombola-like wind machine – seemed to go an extra mile to crown an extra-special night.
The concert was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and is on BBC Sounds
Hence then, the article about john adams new piano concerto arrives in the uk and it s magical was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( John Adams’ new piano concerto arrives in the UK – and it’s magical )
Also on site :
- WI vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today Match, Dream11 Team Today, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Injury Update- ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Match 47
- Megan Thee Stallion Has One Question for Juvenile About Their Rumored ‘B.B.B.’ Remix: ‘When You Gonna Drop It?’
- Ryan Gosling's Latest Film Compared to Massive Hit Ranked Among 'Best Movies of All Time'