Pictures At An Exhibition
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
CONCERT REVIEW
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Pictures at an Exhibition
at Royal Festival Hall, London
“The LPO played a trio of composers’ works … with varying success”
Under the assured baton of Principal Conductor Edward Gardner, the LPO played a trio of composers’ works … with varying success.
Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Three Screaming Popes was inspired by a series of Francis Bacon paintings (which themselves drew on portraits by 17th-Century works by Veláquez), transforming the distorted figures into a vivid orchestral canvas. To be honest, I was internally screaming like the Popes - the 15-minute piece was discordant and anxious, something akin to a horror film’s soundtrack. I think some of the instruments were screaming, too!
Béla Bartók (1881-1945)
However, this was followed by Béla Bartók’s Violin Concerto No.1, with soloist Alina Ibragimova. Two beautiful movements without a break. And a return to ‘conventional’ music. It was mesmerising and a wonderful teaser to what would follow after the interval. Alina clearly enjoyed herself, her passion and enthusiasm shining through.
Alina Ibragimova ⓒ LPO
Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition was inspired by his friend’s paintings. Victor Hartmann created works which Mussorgsky imagines are hanging in a gallery and we step from one to the other. There are fifteen short movements representing each canvas - from the grotesque to the haunting to the romantic. Climaxing in the triumph of entering The Great Gate of Kiev with the playing of a real Liberty Bell. Yet, strangely, the pieces were written just for piano in 1874 - the whole work was orchestrated by Maurice Ravel in 1922.
Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881)
Another superb evening spent with almost 100 musicians and the amazing LPO. The London Philharmonic Orchestra has a vast range of events at various venues around the country. Check out their website for details - https://lpo.org.uk/whats-on/ .
Principal Conductor Edward Gardner
Artistic Director Elena Dubinets
Dates until Saturday 25th April 2026
Check with the LPO website for details
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