Juanjo Mena has received glowing reviews, following his return visit to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic in September. The concerts featured Ravel’s complete ballet Daphnis et Chloé, a piece at the very heart of Mena’s repertoire, Germaine Tailleferre’s Harp Concerto with the Orchestra’s Principal Harpist Marie-Pierre Langlamet, and Pierné’s Overture to Ramuntxo.

“The guest conductor Juanjo Mena manages to make the [Berlin] Philharmonic shine and sparkle, and audience rejoices. […] Mena unites with the orchestra, riding the same wave as the Berlin Philharmonic. He focuses all attention on the music.” (Felix Stephan, Berliner Morgenpost)

“Mena’s whole-hearted rendition of the overture went along with Pierné’s vibrant orchestration, bringing out the sweeping motions of the strings and indulging in the solemn brass chorale of the central Andante. Even within its limited duration, Mena infused the performance with a theatrical zest. Most mesmerising were the moments [in Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé] when Mena let the score linger, its fluctuation evoking a restrained eroticism. Amid this suspended atmosphere, the audience could fully savour Ravel’s lush harmonies … it was tempting to just sit back and let the lavish orchestration wash over oneself.” (Elena Luporini, Bachtrack)

“… with Mena conducting the slower music [of Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé] con amore while being no stranger to a sense of theatre, the Pirates faster than most without compromising clarity. Clarity also informed the woodwinds’ birdsong to signal ‘Daybreak’, spacious without doubting that the sun would never shine. Brilliant playing.” (Colin Anderson, Colin’s Column)

The concert on Saturday 28th September was broadcast live on the orchestra’s Digital Concert Hall and will be soon be available to watch again for subscribers.

Image © Fabian Schellhorn