sat 09/11/2024

Magdalena Kožená, Private Musicke, Wigmore Hall | reviews, news & interviews

Magdalena Kožená, Private Musicke, Wigmore Hall

Magdalena Kožená, Private Musicke, Wigmore Hall

A Baroque jam session led by classical music's mightiest mezzo

Magdalena Kožená: Frontwoman for the coolest group in town

The Wigmore Hall, with its laboriously marbled and gilded period interior, doesn’t exactly scream “rebellion”. Yet for the second time in as many months its conservative classical crowd saw recital conventions discarded like the too-tight bow tie that they are. Players strolled on with relaxed ease, discovered a jam session in progress and decided to join in the fun. The guitars may have been of the Baroque variety, the drum kit replaced with tambour and tambourine, and the bass-line provided by a violone, but last night mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená fronted quite the coolest gig in town.

The Wigmore Hall, with its laboriously marbled and gilded period interior, doesn’t exactly scream “rebellion”. Yet for the second time in as many months its conservative classical crowd saw recital conventions discarded like the too-tight bow tie that they are. Players strolled on with relaxed ease, discovered a jam session in progress and decided to join in the fun. The guitars may have been of the Baroque variety, the drum kit replaced with tambour and tambourine, and the bass-line provided by a violone, but last night mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená fronted quite the coolest gig in town.

When you can be astonished by a tambourine there is really nothing else to do but marvel and surrender to extraordinary musical skill

Share this article

Comments

Are you kidding about Kozena? 'Natural, unforced' - have you watched her when she jerks her body around to squeeze the notes out? She's given some of the worst performances of romantic rep I've seen, yet just about gets away with Bach and Handel. And I think you overdo the laborious, conservative nature of the Wigmore.

Her performance was amazing. Strong clear and beautiful voice. All in a place where the acoustics is clearly not the best. And she does have a 3 time encore to back it up.

I LOVED the instrumental ensemble and I really hope they'll be back in London!!! Thank you, Mr Pitzl, Ms Koell, Mr Sandilands, Mr Mayoral, Mr Fernandez Baena, Mr Myron, Ms Gasser! You rock!!

Fantastic concert. Her singing was wonderful and you're right about this music needing to be heard live. There was a spontaneity and a freedom that was almost folk or jazz like.

Add comment

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters