Radio Times

Review by:

Patrick Mulkern

In tonight’s concert (given on Tuesday) there are two Barenboims on the bill: conductor Daniel and his 26-year-old son Michael, who plays violin with the West–Eastern Divan Orchestra and as a soloist. He made his Proms solo debut in 2009 and says he always finds it an “overwhelming” experience at the Royal Albert Hall. Here he plays Anthèmes 2, a mesmerising early work by Pierre Boulez scored for violin and live electronics.

The main courses, though, are two of Beethoven’s later symphonies. To start, his perhaps less-celebrated Eighth and to close, the Seventh with its popular second movement, Allegretto.

About this programme

Daniel Barenboim conducts the Arab-Israeli West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in the fourth of their five-part Beethoven symphony cycle at London's Royal Albert Hall. Tonight, they perform the Seventh and Eighth, two contrasting later works, with the former a more expansive and majestic piece. The conductor's son Michael, accompanied by the Paris-based Institute for Research and Co-ordination in Acoustics and Music, also gives a rendition of Pierre Boulez's Anthemes 2 for violin and live electronics.

Cast and crew

Cast

Performer

Daniel Barenboim

Performer

West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Performer

Michael Barenboim

Presenter

Suzy Klein

Crew

Director

Rodney Greenberg

Producer

Serena Cross

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