Romanian National Philharmonic Orch/Smbatyan review – Vengerov’s virtuoisty raises the temperature

Cadogan Hall, LondonThe contemporary works were unengaging, but the Romanian Orchestra’s Tchaikovsky enthralled, and Vengerov’s bravura reading of Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto closed the concert in spectacular styleBilled as a Maxim Vengerov gala, this programme of popular classics was also a showcase for the Romanian National Philharmonic Orchestra, the somewhat grandiose touring name for the Bra?ov Philharmonic. A fine, disciplined ensemble, they hail from Romania’s seventh most populous city, located slap bang in the middle of Transylvania. Under Armenian conductor Sergey...