Radio 3 in Concert, 29 April 2025 (rec 12 March 2025): Bartok, Ravel, Janacek

**Pulcinella** · 29-04-25, 11:55

Bachtrack review:

Mixed results from Dalia Stasevska's trio of 20th-century works

https://bachtrack.com/review-stasevska-bavouzet-bartok-ravel-janacek-bbc-symphony-barbican-london-march-2025

Seldom heard and standard repertoire bring mixed results from Dalia Stasevska, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Chorus.

The Arts Desk review:

Bavouzet, BBCSO, Stasevska, Barbican review - ardent souls in mythic magic

https://www.theartsdesk.com/classical-music/bavouzet-bbcso-stasevska-barbican-review-ardent-souls-mythic-magic

Not to be overshadowed by the adrenalin charges of the Budapest Festival Orchestra the previous evening, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and its Principal Guest Conductor Dalia Stasevska gave a supercharged triple whammy of masterpieces. They even had a pianist to match the Budapesters’ Igor Levit, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. He seemed as delighted with Stasevska and the players as they were with him; the post-performance embraces spoke volumes about communicative kindred spirits.

YouTube with score recording of the Cantata Profana here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoZ67cs6jTE

József Réti, tenor
András Faragó, baritone
Budapest Chorus
Budapest Symphony Orchestra
János Ferencsik

**silvestrione** · 01-05-25, 12:35

Listened in car while negotiating closed roads etc. but I thought the Bartok fabulous. I always find the Ravel left-hand concerto rather indigestible for some reason.

**bluestateprommer** · 29-05-25, 16:38

Originally posted by silvestrione View Post

Listened in car while negotiating closed roads etc. but I thought the Bartok fabulous. I always find the Ravel left-hand concerto rather indigestible for some reason.

Managed to listen yesterday, just before the 30-day deadline. Agree totally about the Bartok. I'm much more of a fan of Ravel's Concerto in D, always amazing to listen to (at least for me) even though musically it's definitely not at all happy la-la-land fun. However, this particular performance didn't show the work or J-EB at either's best. Several smudged passages and dropped notes, which even extended to the 2nd encore, the final movement of Le tombeau de Couperin. The Janacek was very enjoyable, and provided another reason to give Nigel Simeone's recent commentary on the work for The Essay another listen:

The Essay - The Little Secrets of Great Works - Leoš Janáček’s Sinfonietta - BBC Sounds

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028k5n

Essays on the small, underappreciated aspects of famous artistic pieces.

**silvestrione** · 29-05-25, 18:24

Originally posted by bluestateprommer View Post

Managed to listen yesterday, just before the 30-day deadline. Agree totally about the Bartok. I'm much more of a fan of Ravel's Concerto in D, always amazing to listen to (at least for me) even though musically it's definitely not at all happy la-la-land fun. However, this particular performance didn't show the work or J-EB at either's best. Several smudged passages and dropped notes, which even extended to the 2nd encore, the final movement of Le tombeau de Couperin. The Janacek was very enjoyable, and provided another reason to give Nigel Simeone's recent commentary on the work for The Essay another listen:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028k5n

Oh, yes, The Essay...thanks for that, hadn't noticed it.

Radio 3 in Concert, 29 April 2025 (rec 12 March 2025): Bartok, Ravel, Janacek

Radio 3 in Concert, 29 April 2025 (rec 12 March 2025): Bartok, Ravel, Janacek

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