Dragon Review: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at G-Live

Published on: 2 Jun, 2026
Updated on: 2 Jun, 2026

British violinist Jack Liebeck

By Isabelle Trubshaw

We commonly attribute emotions to music, often experiencing a poignant progressive journey throughout a piece. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s latest program at G-Live certainly followed this trajectory of emotional vivacity, bringing the auditorium to life with a varied evening of classical performance.

The evening began with Dvorák’s Carnival Overture, providing a boisterous and colourful opening uniting the full orchestra. Each section mirrored the excitement of celebratory scenes through spirited rhythms, propelled by brilliant orchestration.

Particular hats off to double bassist Jason Henery, who poured so much energy into the performance that he looked as though he might fall off his chair!

The mood shifted during Jack Liebeck’s subsequent solo performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. Accompanied by a reduced orchestra, Liebeck’s technical mastery gracefully shaped tender melodies, conjuring up emotions of passionate longing and dramatic tension.

Some audience members noted a lack of intimacy with Liebeck’s performance, amplified by a slightly unsettled on-stage presence – most notably during the tutti sections, where he turned his back on the auditorium to face the orchestra. Nonetheless, while some felt the emotional distance, others were swept away by his silky, fluid tones with one attendee saying: “I am no musician, but I thought he was wonderful.”

By all accounts, the centrepiece of the evening was Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, performed by the full orchestra after the interval. High praise must go to conductor Kevin John Edusei, who conducted the piece entirely from memory, pouring life and soul into the podium.

Mirroring the heavy resonance of the double basses with vivid facial expressions while bouncing up and down to the staccato rhythms of the violins, his whole-body conducting added a thrilling visual dimension to a masterfully played symphony.

While the musicians burned bright, the atmosphere of the stage was somewhat dampened by G-Live’s visual presence. Were it not for the elegant evening wear of the musicians, one might have mistaken the venue for a municipal town hall. The sight of a world-class orchestra sat on metal fold-up chairs, against a bare backdrop and illuminated by a harsh, bright, white light was an unfortunate distraction.

As one audience member aptly noted after the performance: “A romantic piece like Mendelssohn’s concerto requires a lovely atmosphere to go with it.”

Overall, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra triumphed over their surroundings, providing a thoroughly enjoyable concert that was much appreciated by an enthusiastic audience!