Dudamel delivers at Festival Hall

On Saturday 23rd Feb a group of 18 members of Classical Partners (http://www.classicalpartners.co.uk/) enjoyed a truly memorable concert on the South Bank. After a glass or two of wine and a delicious supper at the Archduke we made our way across to the Festival Hall, which was buzzing – in anticipation of the appearance of Gustavo Dudamel to conduct the Philharmonia Orchestra in a performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto no 17 (with soloist Emmanuel Ax) followed by Mahler’s 5th Symphony.

And the audience were not disappointed. Dudamel, still only 28, conducted the 68-minute long Mahler symphony without score and with such energy and enthusiasm that couldn’t help but put a smile on your face. Except of course during the haunting Adagietto (made famous in the film Death in Venice), played perhaps more slowly than usual but with great feeling by strings and harp. For most of the Mahler it was hard to take one’s eyes off the diminutive figure of Dudamel as he swayed, lunged and bounced around the rostrum. However in no way did this detract from the wonderful playing of the Philharmonia.

Within seconds of the thrilling finale of the Mahler the whole audience had joined in a standing ovation for Dudamel and the Philharmonia, and the genius of Mahler of course!

After such a thrilling concert some of us just had to return to the Archduke for a celebratory drink, where we spotted some of the orchestra – celebrating with their friends and family a job very well done!

Press reviews of the concert have been excellent, eg the Guardian giving it 5 out of 5 and describing it as “an astonishingly vivid and exciting performance” in which “the Philharmonia quite simply played out of their skins for Dudamel”.

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