Classical Reviews
Hunt, London Firebird Orchestra, Bloxham, St Paul's Covent GardenWednesday, 12 October 2016
It's harder for young professional musicians to be judged in standard repertoire – the very greatest music, in short – than to make their mark tackling the unknown in a wacky venue. High levels of energy and technical skill married to interpretations with something to say are what it takes, and what we got from the London Firebird Orchestra last night. Read more... |
Krylov, LPO, Søndergård, RFHMonday, 10 October 2016
With a trio of easy-on-the-ear 20th-century works, Thomas Søndergård marked his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. A pleasingly full crowd took the opportunity to hear the work of a conductor rarely glimpsed in these parts outside the BBC Proms. His appearances there in charge of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales have given the impression of a contented, highly competent musician, at ease both with the players before him and the scores on the music stand. Read more... |
Trevigne, CBSO, Chauhan, Symphony Hall, BirminghamSaturday, 08 October 2016
Bruckner’s Third Symphony doesn’t so much begin as become audible. A steady heartbeat in the bass, oscillating violas lit from within by clarinets, and in the middle, slowly pulling clear of the texture, the proud, sombre trumpet motif to which Wagner himself agreed to attach his name. Read more... |
Classical CDs Weekly: Brahms, Steve Reich, Aleksandra VrebalovSaturday, 08 October 2016
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Mozart's Last Symphonies, SCO, Ticciati, Usher Hall, EdinburghFriday, 07 October 2016
His transformational Brahms series with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra may have been truncated by slipped disc troubles - he was much missed at Glyndebourne too - but Robin Ticciati is back with renewed energy and purpose. To judge from the brilliant but focused party they seemed to be having with Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony last night, the players are as overjoyed as he is. Read more... |
Isserlis, Mustonen, Wigmore HallWednesday, 05 October 2016
For a BBC Radio 3 lunchtime's hour of music, cellist Steven Isserlis's latest collaboration with that most individual of pianists Olli Mustonen went astonishingly deep. Read more... |
Classical CDs Weekly: Berlioz, Maxwell Davies, Rameau, ZimmermannSaturday, 01 October 2016
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Stravinsky: Myths and Rituals 5, Philharmonia, Salonen, RFHFriday, 30 September 2016
The Symphony of Psalms, which ended the Philharmonia’s Stravinsky series last night, is an indelible masterpiece, silencing the tired but persistent accusation that Stravinsky’s music is clever but cold. Abstract it may be, but suffused with an exile’s deep longing, spritual hope rising in harmonies of heart-stopping consolation until that final, revelatory C major chord. Read more... |
Beethoven Ninth, RLPO, Petrenko, Philharmonic Hall, LiverpoolWednesday, 28 September 2016
The new season at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic is focusing on revolutionaries. Bach, Beethoven and Berlioz all feature strongly over the next few months, as will Stravinsky and – where else but Liverpool? – The Beatles. Read more... |
Mariinsky Orchestra, Gergiev, Cadogan HallTuesday, 27 September 2016
This year, Valery Gergiev is marking the Prokofiev 125th anniversary with concerts and projects in no fewer than 17 countries. Yet much of last night’s concert, the first of a three-night stint in London, made this whole endeavour feel more like a duty than either an imperative – or a pleasure. Read more... |
Brahms: Double Concerto, Piano Trio No. 1 (1854 version) Joshua Bell (violin and director), Steven Isserlis (cello), Jeremy Denk (piano), Academy of St Martin in the Fields (Sony)
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Rameau: Suite de Hippolyte et Aricie Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Harding (Harmonia Mundi)Pages
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