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CBSO/Yamada review – Poulenc and Adams pairing is stylish, witty and thrilling
A review of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's Proms 2026 concert at the Royal Albert Hall praises conductor Kazuki Yamada for an inventive pairing of John Adams' Harmonium with two works by Francis Poulenc, calling the programme "stylish, witty and thrilling". The critic highlights the imaginative contrast between American minimalism's emotional intensity and Poulenc's playful, self-deprecating style, arguing it made for an unusually entertaining and effective evening of orchestral music.
Poulenc's 1948 "Sinfonietta" was delivered with crisp precision and understated wit, while Dutch piano duo the Jussen brothers made their Proms debut with an energetic, tightly synchronised account of Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos. Adams' Harmonium, performed with the CBSO Chorus strengthened by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, was described as monumental and richly textured, though the central movement, "Because I could not stop for Death", was seen as comparatively less compelling. Despite that minor reservation, the review concludes the performance was an overall triumph.
In short
- CBSO's Proms concert paired Poulenc with John Adams' Harmonium
- Jussen brothers gave energetic Proms debut in Poulenc's two-piano concerto
- Reviewer calls Yamada's direction stylish, witty and largely triumphant
Explained simply
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is one of Britain's leading orchestras, based in Birmingham and known for its diverse classical and contemporary programming. The Proms is an annual summer music festival held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, featuring orchestral concerts that attract audiences from across the country.
Francis Poulenc was a twentieth-century French composer known for playful, witty works, while John Adams is a contemporary American composer associated with minimalism, a musical tradition emphasising repetition, gradual change and emotional intensity. The two composers come from different eras, countries and artistic traditions, representing seemingly disparate approaches to composition.
Conductor Kazuki Yamada brought works by both composers together in a single concert, creating an unconventional programme pairing them side by side. Such bold programming choices are notable for attempting to forge unexpected artistic connections and encourage audiences to experience familiar works in new contexts.
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