Page 375 - Liverpool Philharmonic 22-23 Season Coverage Book

Wong’s vision for Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition was quite remarkable. It’s a work
I’ve heard many times, in many halls, with different orchestras and conductors, but this was
without doubt the most impressive and exciting I’ve ever heard. Again Wong pushed the
speeds a little, the clarity of the string textures was consistently clear and crisp, and while
there was vibrato, it was restrained, keeping the sound pleasantly transparent. The opening
Promenade was certainly more of a speedy walk than a leisurely jaunt, but the shaping of
the phrases brought much interest. The darker moments stood out for the intensity of
emotion as in The Gnome, Catacombs and The Hut on Hen's Legs. One of the most
expressive and evocative movements was The Old Castle, with eloquent phrasing and
ethereal strings. The final picture – The Great Gate of Kiev – was awe-inspiring in its
majestic splendour, the huge orchestral sound possessing a massive sense of scale.
Judicious use of the RLPO’s E flat church bell added something rather special in what was
a towering conclusion.