BBCSO/Schuldt review – Phibbs cello concerto brings cohesion to uneven programme

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BBCSO/Schuldt Review: Phibbs Cello Concerto Brings Cohesion Amidst Disparate Programme

A concert that veered wildly between moments of sublime beauty and discordant chaos can be a challenging program to navigate. Fortunately, the BBC Symphony Orchestra's latest outing benefited from the presence of Joseph Phibbs's cello concerto, its world premiere featuring the talents of Guy Johnston.

Phibbs's concerto is a masterclass in contrasts, with five distinct movements that showcase the composer's mastery of tonality and orchestration. The Aubade, with its shimmering light and dancing counterpoint, gave way to the mournful Elegy, a long cello threnody that was poignantly framed by Clemens Schuldt's skilled control of his forces.

The Nocturne, meanwhile, was a tense and agitated work, haunted by the cries of night-birds and perhaps something more sinister. But it was the Vocalise that brought this attractive new concerto to a radiant conclusion, its wistful beauty a perfect foil to the darkness that had preceded it.

In contrast, other works on the program struggled to find cohesion. Tchaikovsky's Hamlet was a prolix tone poem that benefited from Schuldt's energetic and clipped reading, but lacked warmth in places. The German conductor's interpretation of Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier suite was idiomatic, if occasionally over-orchestrated, with too much micromanaging to prevent the music from feeling disjointed.

Overall, it was Phibbs's cello concerto that proved the real star of the show, its musical cohesion and beauty a shining beacon in an otherwise uneven program. With Johnston's elegant playing and Schuldt's expert guidance, this new work is sure to leave a lasting impression on listeners.
 
🎶 I was really impressed by Phibbs's cello concerto, it was like a breath of fresh air amidst all the other stuff on the program 😌. Johnston's performance was insane 🤯, he brought this piece to life in ways that made me feel all the emotions 💔. The way it transitioned from light and airy to dark and intense was just genius 🔮. I don't blame Schuldt for trying to make Tchaikovsky's tone poem more energetic, but yeah, it felt a bit forced at times 🤷‍♂️. Overall, though, Phibbs's concerto stole the show and left me feeling all jazzed up 💥.
 
I'm not gonna lie, I was kinda underwhelmed by that BBCSO concert 🤔. I mean, Phibbs's cello concerto was definitely a highlight, but the rest of the program felt like it was all over the place, you know? Tchaikovsky's Hamlet was just too long and meh, and Strauss's suite was all about the conductor, not the music 🎵. But at the same time, I can appreciate the effort to mix things up and showcase different styles... it's just that sometimes, cohesion is key 😅. That Vocalise movement though? Absolutely stunning 🔥. I'm rooting for Phibbs to make more music like that! 👍
 
[🎵😂] When the orchestra sounds like it's having a bad day... but then the cellist shows up 📺[Phibbs' concerto] is where it's at! 🎶 The rest? Meh, too much drama, not enough substance 😒. [Tchaikovsky's Hamlet] needs more coffee ☕️ and less micromanaging 🙄
 
I'm so glad they got Phibbs' concerto right – it's like a breath of fresh air amidst all the other chaos 🌿💆‍♀️. I mean, can you imagine sitting through a whole program and still feeling uplifted? 😊 That Vocalise movement was like a ray of sunshine! 🌻 And Guy Johnston's cello playing is just... wow! 🎶 He has this way of conveying emotion that just draws you in. I think what really stood out to me was how cohesive the concerto felt – it's like Phibbs took all these different pieces and stitched them together into something beautiful 🧵. The rest of the program, yeah, it had its moments, but they didn't quite gel for me 😐. Still, Phibbs' concerto is definitely something special – I'll be thinking about it for a while 😊.
 
omg i was blown away by the Phibbs cello concerto 🤩 it's like he took all these different emotions and moods and somehow tied them together in this beautiful cohesive work 🌈 the parts of the program that didn't quite work for me were those Tchaikovsky pieces they just felt like they were competing with each other instead of working together as a team 🤦‍♂️ and don't get me wrong i love Clemens Schuldt he's an amazing conductor but sometimes too much guidance can be a bad thing 🙅‍♂️ anyway that concerto though it was seriously the highlight of the night for me 😍
 
I'm so stoked to hear about the BBCSO's latest concert! 🎵👏 It sounds like Phibbs's cello concerto was the real MVP (Most Valuable Piece) of the show 🤩! The way it brought cohesion to an otherwise disjointed program was pure magic ✨. I mean, having Guy Johnston on board is a total game-changer, and Clemens Schuldt's expertise definitely helped shape the music into something special 💪. But let's be real, Phibbs's concerto was the one that really stole the show 🔥! The Aubade was giving me all the feels 😌, and that Vocalise movement? Pure perfection 🎶. It's no wonder it brought the whole program to a radiant conclusion 🌈. Overall, I'm so excited for more of Phibbs's work - this new concerto is definitely going on my playlist ASAP 📚! #PhibbsCelloConcerto #BBCSO #MusicToMyEars #CellistGoals
 
🎵 just had the chance to listen to the BBCSO's latest concert featuring Phibbs' cello concerto... wow! Guy Johnston's performance was insane! 🤯 The way he brought out the emotions in that concerto was incredible. And Clemens Schuldt conducting? 💪 Total pro! But, gotta say, some of those other pieces on the program felt like they were trying too hard to impress. Tchaikovsky's Hamlet was a bit too long-winded for me... and the Strauss suite just didn't sit right with me 🤔. All in all, though, Phibbs' concerto was the real showstopper. Definitely a highlight of the evening! ⭐️
 
I gotta say, I was really loving the Aubade – it's like Phibbs took every bit of magic out of Debussy's "Clair de Lune" and made it even more mesmerizing! Guy Johnston's performance on cello was insane btw 🤯💥 And that Vocalise movement? Forget about it, it gave me chills 😊🎶 The rest of the concert was alright, I guess... some bits were a bit too much for my taste, like when Schuldt went all out with Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier suite – it felt like he was trying to prove something 🙄 But overall, the cello concerto was LIFE.CHANGING.
 
aww man i feel u 🤗 that concert sounded like it was all over the place but at least phibbs cello concerto came thru 💖 guy johnston's playing is so beautiful he brought out the best in that piece and schuldt did a great job guiding him... poor tchaikovsky's hamlet though sounds like it needed more warmth and not so many notes 🎵 sometimes less is more, you know? and strauss's suite was just kinda meh 🤔
 
omg i cant believe how much philips cello concerto saved that programme lol 🤣 i mean seriously though, tchaikovskys hamlet was so long it felt like they were torturing the orchestra 🙄 but phibbss music just made everything else feel like a warm hug in comparison 💕 guy johnston is literally so talented on the cello 🎸 and schuldt did an amazing job conducting him 🙌
 
I'm telling ya, BBCSO really knocked it outta the park with Phibbs' cello concerto 🎵! The guy must've put his heart & soul into that piece, 'cause it's like he poured all these emotions into it. I mean, the Aubade was giving me major ethereal vibes 😌, while the Elegy just... broke my heart 💔. And don't even get me started on Johnston's playing - the guy's got skills 🔥! It's clear Phibbs wanted that concerto to shine in this program, and I'm so glad it did 🙌. The rest of the music was cool & all, but let's be real, the cello concerto stole the show 💪. Can't wait to hear more from Phibbs! 👍
 
I'm telling ya, it's all about balance in life 🤯... like with the concert they had. I mean, some pieces were straight fire 🔥, while others felt like they didn't quite fit together. But then you have Phibbs' cello concerto, and that's where the magic happens ✨! The way he weaved all those different movements together was pure genius. And let's be real, Guy Johnston's playing is on point 🎸. It's like he's speaking a secret language with his cello 😍. On the other hand, some of the other pieces felt like they were struggling to find their footing. I mean, Tchaikovsky's Hamlet was cool and all, but it just didn't quite have that oomph 💪. Anyway, at least Phibbs' concerto brought everything together 🌈... now that's what I call a winning combo!
 
I gotta say, Phibbs's cello concerto was literally a breath of fresh air 🌬️. The way it tied together all the other music felt so effortless, like a beautiful puzzle piece finally falling into place 🧮. And Guy Johnston's performance? Absolutely stunning 🤩. The rest of the concert was meh 🤔, to be honest. Tchaikovsky's Hamlet was just too long and Strauss's suite felt like Schuldt was trying too hard to control every little thing 🎭. But that concerto... it was pure magic ✨.
 
I loved the BBCSO's concert last night 🎵! The Phibbs cello concerto was like a breath of fresh air - so beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant 😊. I mean, that Aubade movement gave me chills all over 💀! But what really stood out to me was how well it tied the whole program together 🤝. It's not always easy for an orchestra to navigate a diverse setlist, but these guys really made it work. The Tchaikovsky piece was a bit of a slog to get through 🤪, and I'm not sure about that Strauss suite - it felt like Schuldt was trying too hard 🙅‍♂️. But Phibbs's concerto? Absolutely stunning 💫! Can't wait to hear more from this talented composer 👏
 
I'm loving how Phibbs's cello concerto came together as the glue that held the whole show together! 🙌 The way it seamlessly switched between all those different moods was like watching a masterclass in emotional weather control - one minute you're basking in sunshine and the next, you're shivering under a dark cloud. Guy Johnston's playing was absolutely sublime, and that Aubade movement gave me chills every time! 💀 Clemens Schuldt really outdid himself with his orchestration too, it was like he had a magic wand to conjure up those perfect balances of sound.
 
I dont really get why music concerts are always a mix of good and bad vibes you know? 🤔 They seem to do the opposite of what I'd expect - some pieces sound amazing and then there's like 5 other pieces that just kinda meh or even annoy me 😒. Anyway, I loved the cello concerto by Phibbs it was so beautiful! The way it all came together was really impressive. And the conductor did a great job too. But honestly, some of those other pieces were kinda a letdown 🎵.
 
🎵 I mean, I loved the Phibbs cello concerto, it was like a breath of fresh air amidst all that other stuff 🙄. But, come on, Tchaikovsky's Hamlet was just meh...I get that it's a classic and all, but it felt like Schuldt was trying way too hard to make it sound interesting 😒. And don't even get me started on the Strauss suite...I mean, I know it's not easy to bring a piece like that together, but it just felt like Schuldt was waving his baton around like a maniac 🙈.

But seriously though, Phibbs's concerto was something special...the way the different movements flowed into each other was so beautiful 😊. And Guy Johnston is just incredible on the cello - he's got this amazing expression and tone that just draws you in 🎧. So yeah, let's give Phibbs a big round of applause for that one 👏!
 
🎵👏 i mean, can you imagine having a playlist that just jumps all over the place? like, one minute it's beautiful and romantic, the next it's all dark and intense... yeah, that'd be hard to sit through. but phibbs's cello concerto is like a breath of fresh air in a crowded room 🌿💨. it's got all these different moods and emotions, but they're not just random, there's some real craftsmanship going on. i love how johnston brings out the humanity in that music ❤️. and schuldt, man... he's like the conductor version of a Swiss watch – precise and calm 🕰️. it's clear what he's trying to do, even when the rest of the program is all over the place 🎧
 
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