The NDR RADIO PHILHARMONIC is the English name for the NDR Radiophilharmonie from Hannover. And NDR stands for Norddeutscher Rundfunk, which translates to North German Broadcasting. So that's the words taken care of, what was the music like....
It’s said that you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. That’s something the NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra don’t need to worry about. They swept onto the stage exuding confidence and delivering a masterclass in sartorial elegance. The gentlemen in tails, the ladies elegant plus VAT. Chief conductor Stanislav Kochanovsky practically bounded onto the podium. There were smiles and nods all round. The sense of cohesiveness between orchestra and conductor was palpable.
The concert kicked off with a performance of Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 (the Classical symphony) which proved they have the musicianship to back up the style. Many conductors take the symphony at a spritely pace and deliver a light, frothy concoction. Kochanovsky put his own seal on the work, taking a measured, thoughtful approach to the first three movements before cutting loose with the orchestral fireworks for the finale. And the crowd loved it. A short, irrepressibly likeable symphony, it was the perfect opener.
a fiendishly difficult showpiece that remains a concert hall favourite
Next up, pianist Nikolai Lugansky (also in tails) joined the orchestra for Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 1, a fiendishly difficult showpiece that remains a concert hall favourite. Lugansky’s technique was enthusiastic. Or maybe emphatic is a better word. Does the expression “going at it hammer and tongs” have any place in a classical music review? Let’s just say that the Royal Concert Hall might want to have their Steinway checked over for possible structural damage. It was certainly an entertaining and flamboyant turn and Lugansky earned himself a whole host of new fans.
After the interval, Brahms’s Symphony No. 2 provided a stark contrast to the fun and flamboyance of the first half. Here, Kochanovsky’s conducting technique was dynamic: impactful. It was as if he were channeling Carlo Maria Giulini. This was Brahms as high German culture, delivered with steely resolve and seriousness of purpose. It anchored the earlier pieces and gave weight to what might otherwise have been an exercise in crowd-pleasing. Not that the crowd were anything less than ecstatic. The NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra gifted Nottingham with a highly memorable concert. Let’s hope they return soon.
The NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra played the Royal Concert Hall on Wednesday 14th October 2026.
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