Manchester, Bridgewater Hall: Concertos by Hakola and Broström

Extract

Given that the BBC Philharmonic had taken the courageous step to perform not one but two substantial premières on 1 February, one might have expected enticing potboilers to make up the rest of the menu. However, the remainder of the programme was devoted to Stravinsky's Petrushka (admittedly his most colourful ballet) along with his austere Symphonies of Wind Instruments. The concert was given a novel twist in that the first half (Symphonies of Wind Instruments and Hakola Violin Concerto) was directed by visiting guest conductor Håkan Hardenberger with John Storgårds as soloist; whilst in the second half (Broström Trumpet Concerto and Petrushka) Storgårds donned his more familiar guise as Principal Guest Conductor, with Hardenberger in his better-known role as trumpet soloist.