The Berlin Philharmonic return with Augustin Hadelich in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Scriabin’s The Divine Poem — conducted by Kirill Petrenko.
Programme
Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major
Scriabin Symphony No. 3 in C minor, ‘The Divine Poem’
Augustin Hadelich (violin)
Berlin Philharmonic
Conductor: Kirill Petrenko
Thursday 3 September 2026 · 7pm–c9.15pm
Royal Albert Hall
Listen on BBC Radio 3 / BBC Sounds
Review
A deliciously meaty Beethoven Violin Concerto from Augustin Hadelich and the Berlin Philharmonic. The orchestra feels like its playing differently – perhaps more on point. (Sacrilege to say, I know. This is the Berlin Phil, after all.) The solo line is full, strong, resolute. Its possible to hear what so many others so readily extol in the work: humanity. The strings in the first moment have an oak-tree feel – fuck-off dependability (that likely would have worked quite well in last night’s Elgar, as it happens).
The second movement opens with a prayer-like fragility to it – partly the resolute tone in the solo violin, partly the reliable clarinet (and later bassoon) counter-melody – building into a much-needed foil to the ails of the present-day. The conclusion gets off to the mildest of rocky starts, but things level off soon after, proceedings settling into a riotous celebration. We’re left with one unequivocal message: resolute hope.
This review will be updated in due course.
Gallery
Photography will be added once available.
