Rosas, D'un soir un jour, Sadler's Wells

‘The whole piece beautifully catches the quivering languor of the music, almost but never quite reaching its climax, as if that would be just too much effort.’

‘There is a Russian-doll symmetry to the music — it begins and ends with Debussy (the Prélude and Jeux), who surrounds Stravinsky (Symphonies of Wind Instruments and Fireworks), who surrounds George Benjamin (whose Dance Figures ends the first half, while his Ringed by the Flat Horizon begins the second).’

‘It's a good idea and each episode is studded with almost-there moments, but overall it makes for a disappointing evening.’

** ‘There is plainly an overriding intelligence at work in D’un soir, but of such arid cool that any ongoing emotional or intellectual engagement was negated.’