Conductor: Antonello Manacorda
Venue: Royal & Derngate, Northampton | Date: 31st May
By Gerald Porter
A packed Derngate auditorium was unusually quiet in anticipation on the evening of 31st May as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra returned to Northampton under the expert baton of conductor Antonello Manacorda.
The audience was treated to an electrifying rendition of three musical works, with The Magic Flute overture being the first to start the performance.
Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute, was delivered with vivacity and clarity. The orchestra captured both the grandeur and playfulness of the well-loved opera overture, with crisp articulation and powerful chords that filled the hall. From the very first bars, the performance was charged with a ‘molto vivace’ spirit that set the tone for the evening.
‘Allegro molto appassionato’ marked the beginning of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with artist-in residene, violinist Johan Dalene as soloist. At just 27, Dalene brought remarkable confidence and vigour to this soaring, expressive work. His playing was ecstatic, giving the full range of interpretation as the melodies ranged up and down the scales, spiralling and climbing throughout the performance.
The final movement tapered to a haunting decrescendo, earning Dalene a rapturous response from the audience.
After the interval came Tchaikovsky’s emotionally charged Symphony No. 6, Pathétique. As noted in the programme, its four movements chart a journey from passion to love, disappointment, and ultimately death. The orchestra rose to the challenge, delivering each phase with dramatic intensity and cohesion. The Allegro and Allegretto movements pulsed with urgency, while the final Adagio lamentoso was rendered with sombre beauty. Under Manacorda’s direction, the RPO highlighted every texture and theme, giving Northampton an interpretation that was both powerful and profoundly moving.
It was, quite simply, a glorious evening of world-class music-making – one that left the audience uplifted, stirred, and deeply grateful.
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