Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio, Royal Concert Hall,

Nottingham, 20.10.10

The Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio and their Norwegian
Principal Guest Conductor Terje Mikkelsen are currently in the UK, with an apt mix

of Russian and Scandinavian music in their tour repertoire.

In spite of my interest in Scandinavian music, Ole Olsen was a new name to me. On

the evidence of his Asgaardsreisen (here given the English title `The Wild Ride of

Thor'), he emerges as a kind of Norwegian Smetana. A vivid tone-poem, it includes

folk-dance episodes, and is scored with a brilliance suggesting the influence possibly

of Berlioz, certainly of Liszt. The orchestra and conductor Terje Mikkelsen gave it a

blistering whirlwind of a performance.

The orchestra's fiery playing made the scherzo sound darker, more turbulent than

usual. There was warmth and richness in the slow movement, with the opening

clarinet solo sensitively shaped, and the finale was full of vitality.