Review: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra ***

At Leeds Town Hall

Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini is common currency among young pianists anxious to showcase their technical virtuosity in a score of brilliance, delicacy, colour and energy.

In total contrast came another viewpoint from the winner of the 2006 Leeds International Pianoforte Competition, Sunwook Kim. His unhurried reading sought out every last drop of lyrical beauty, the demanding variations so easily accomplished that they melted into his concentrated sense of continuity.

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If different from the composer's own outgoing recording, I found things to enjoy, though the applause showed an audience of mixed feelings.

It had drawn a nicely balanced partnership from the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Simon Wright, Kim's willingness to drop into the general texture allowing more than the usual degree of orchestral detail to emerge.

In Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms, I was disappointed by a Leeds Festival Chorus who seemed still to be getting to grips with the score. Intonation proved a problem for male voices, dynamic shadings were not fully explored.

They were far more happy in the dry wit and deep thoughts of Poulenc's Secheresses and the creamy harmonies of his

Litanies a la Vierge Noire.

Stravinsky's Symphonies for Wind Instruments completed the programme.