Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham | 18 June 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray & Paul Gray
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto
CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham | 18 June 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray & Paul Gray
“Dazzling violin virtuosity and a meaty reading of a Prokofiev masterwork.”
Martinů – Memorial to Lidice
Tchaikovsky – Violin Concerto in D major
Prokofiev – Symphony No. 6 in E-flat minor
Two works born out of the Second World War bracketed Tchaikovsky’s sunnier, more ebullient Violin Concerto in a concert of contrasts.
Martinů’s Memorial to Lidice is, despite its poignantly tragic subject matter, a work that balances an anguished quality with elements that seem to strive towards hope, and even triumph. This was a haunting performance of a haunting work, imbued with delicate colour in the opening and closing passages. Conductor, Dima Slobodeniouk created a carefully shaped narrative arc that rose to a stirring and powerful climax.
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto was, famously, a disaster when first performed. Although it is now a staple of the concert repertoire, it is possible to see that earlier audiences might have been thrown by a certain formal looseness in the opening movement. Also, the sheer weight of its virtuosic writing might have been seen as getting in the way of its emotional message.
Soloist, Inmo Yang gave a technically stunning rendition, playing with a soaring, clear upper register and an earthy lower tone. This was particularly evident in an exquisite middle movement.
The first movement could perhaps have done with some rhythmic flexibility and space to breath. The virtuosity, while dazzling, became a bit unrelenting and perhaps too frenetic. The final movement had more light and shade written into it and felt more relaxed and approachable. The orchestra provided highly polished support, and Slobodeniouk maintained tight ensemble and even balance between soloist and band.
In the programme notes to this concert, Slobodeniouk makes no bones about his admiration of Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 6. Indeed, his connection and deep understanding of the work was clear from the outset. This was a well thought out and rigorously organised reading, which took the audience by the hand and led them through its complexities with clarity and intelligence.
The opening movement was beautifully shaped. The conductor carefully articulated the motivic relationships to bring out a strongly structured argument. The single inner movement - marked Largo - also had a suggestion of Scherzo about it. The melody initially fails to settle and has a queasy, uneven quality to it, although it does finally find a lyrical comfort zone. At which point the ‘cellos and then the violins delivered warmth and richness of tone.
Slobodeniouk maintained a remorseless momentum during the final movement, building tension to almost unbearable levels of nail-biting exhilaration. When all the motivic elements finally crash together, he delivered a monumental and climactic sense of catharsis.
This was a superbly played and well realised performance of a magnificent piece of music.
Dima Slobodeniouk – Conductor
Inmo Yang - Violin