A magnificent “Leningrad” from the BBC Philharmonic

“Juanjo Mena conducted the BBC Philharmonic in one of those rare concerts in which clever programming and superb playing combine to produce a truly exhausting and memorable experience.”
“…before the tumultuous last minutes of the symphony, Mena created a powerful sense of stillness, much aided by the excellent pianissimo control of the orchestra.”
“Mena finally indulged the triumphant last pages to their maximum heroism, marking the end of a superb performance.”
(Rohan Shotton, Bachtrack)
“It was immensely moving.”
(Jonathan Payne, Manchester Confidential)

If you missed Saturday night’s concert, which was greeted with a standing ovation and a 5* review, you can listen to it on BBC Radio 3 at 7.30pm on Wednesday 17th February, and it’s available online for 28 days.

You can read the full reviews here:

Rohan Shotton, Bachtrack

Jonathan Payne, Manchester Confidential