Elgar’s Cello Concerto and More – Liverpool Philharmonic
While much of Europe was glued to the Eurovision Song Contest, Liverpool offered its own musical spectacle at the Philharmonic Hall – and if the city had a jury, this concert might well have earned its own douze points.
The evening opened with Fandangos by Puerto Rican composer Roberto Sierra, a vibrant and rhythmically charged piece that immediately set a cosmopolitan tone. Sierra, known for blending Latin American musical idioms with contemporary classical techniques, delivered a work full of colour and flair. The muted trumpets added a smoky, mysterious texture, while Helena Mackie’s agile oboe lines danced effortlessly above the ensemble. Tom Lessels’ velvety bass clarinet added depth, and the piece ended with a flourish that drew enthusiastic applause. It was a bold and brilliant o...