Martin Adamsreviews Tiberghien, Tucker, RTÉ Philharmonic Choir, RTÉ NSO/Mandeal at NCH, Dublin

Tiberghien, Tucker, RTÉ Philharmonic Choir, RTÉ NSO/Mandeal NCH, Dublin

Wagner - Flying Dutchman Overture Mozart - Piano Concerto in D minor K466

Liszt - A Faust Symphony

Cristian Mandeal has a distinguished record of working with many of the world's front-rank orchestras. He certainly brought strong music- making to this concert, for it was among the best I have heard from the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in recent years.

That included a performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto in D minor K466 that managed to be simultaneously impressive and frustrating.

The impressive aspects included the pianism of the soloist, Cédric Tiberghien, whose control of colour, phrasing, dynamics and digital virtuosity was outstanding. Along with a nigh-on-perfect encore by Debussy, his playing of the Mozart verified his credentials as a deeply thoughtful and sensitive musician. The playing of the orchestra and coordination with the soloist were impressive too.

However, from quite early on, something was missing from this performance. The D minor concerto is one of Mozart's most expressively ambiguous works - by turns, and even simultaneously, gripping, disturbing and elegant. On this occasion those darker qualities were obscured by persistent elegance and over-refinement.

Cristian Mandeal's strong rapport with the RTÉ NSO was especially welcome in the concert's second half, which featured a persuasive account of Liszt's Faust Symphony. If it is not to bluster, this long and portentous piece needs impeccable pacing and a vivid sense of orchestral balance and colour. Those were there in abundance, along with a rhythmic style that was at once buoyant and propelled. There were good contributions from Mark Tucker as Faust and the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir. This was an impressive concert, from a combination of conductor and orchestra that I would wish to hear again.