Marc Minkowski and the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican reviewed by the Arts Desk

In line with the fantastic five star review of the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s concert at the Barbican in The Guardian this month, Marc Minkowski and his orchestra’s performance received another great review in the Arts Desk. Below are some highlights from the article.

“It always repays to push a world-class orchestra beyond their comfort zone. The BBC Symphony’s sound emerged from the refashioning hands of period specialist Marc Minkowski like a naked body from a cold shower: convulsively invigorated and invigorating all those that knocked into it. It was a joy to hear: the best, most intriguing period-playing I’ve heard for quite a while.”

“Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater isn’t quite so doctrinally clean of counterpoint; there is at least one very fine fugal unravelling at “Fac, ut ardeat”, though most of the countrapuntal or harmonic searching is developed for colouristic effect above all, something Minkowski relished bringing out. And when you have an orchestra as good as the BBCSO this isn’t as hard as it seems.”

Igor Toronyi-Lalic

If you wish to read the article fully, please visit the Arts Desk website.