Classical Reviews

NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo, Järvi, RFH

David Nice Tuesday, 07 March 2017

Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics; Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam; NHKSO Tokyo. Would you have thought of putting the Japanese orchestra in the same league as the top Europeans? I certainly wouldn't, at least not until last night.

Frank-Gemmill, SCO, Manze, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh

David Kettle Monday, 06 March 2017

March 2017 is MacMillan month in Scotland – well, in Glasgow at least, with certain events spilling over into Edinburgh and other cities too.

BBC Singers, BBCSO, Oramo, Barbican

David Nice Saturday, 04 March 2017

It's official: if you want to be guaranteed an infallible musical adrenalin boost in London, you can always be sure to find it with Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo and his BBC Symphony Orchestra. And it's not just a question of splashy excitement: Oramo is a rigorous rehearser.

Bavouzet, Manchester Camerata, Takács-Nagy, RNCM, Manchester

Robert Beale Friday, 03 March 2017

Manchester Camerata give relatively few old-fashioned concerts these days – I mean the sort that are done in purpose-built concert halls, with a conductor, soloist and conventional orchestra strength – because they’re busy crossing boundaries and attracting new audiences. But when they do return to the traditional path, they do it extremely well, and especially when music director Gábor Takács-Nagy is in charge.

Mirjam Mesak, Kristiina Rokashevich, St Bartholomew the Great

David Nice Thursday, 23 February 2017

Treasure our young continental European musicians in London while you can. Only last week I learned that so many of the overseas students at London's Guildhall School had stories to tell about being questioned in public (usually "are you Polish?" with the negative ramifications that implied).

Juan Diego Flórez, Vincenzo Scalera, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Richard Bratby Wednesday, 22 February 2017

“Who says Mozart is not like Rossini?” remarked Juan Diego Flórez, about a quarter of an hour into his debut recital at Symphony Hall.

Aimard, Philharmonia, Salonen, RFH

Gavin Dixon Tuesday, 21 February 2017

A new work by Igor Stravinsky is always going to be a major event, so Sunday evening’s UK premiere of his rediscovered Funeral Song was hotly anticipated.

Isabelle Faust, Alexander Melnikov, Wigmore Hall

David Nice Monday, 20 February 2017

Polish composer Szymanowski's Ovid triptych Mythes achieved something like cult status thanks to an iridescent recording. Everyone knew the pianist, the great Krystian Zimerman; the violinist, Kaja Danczowska, less so (where is she now?).

Kaufmann, Mattila, LSO, Pappano, Barbican

Peter Quantrill Thursday, 09 February 2017

Jonas Kaufmann’s legion of admirers could rest content. A well-received Lieder evening last week demonstrated that the world’s hottest tenor property had returned, both to London for a three-concert residency at the Barbican, and indeed to singing after burst blood vessels had forced several months of rest and cancelled concerts.

Grosvenor, BBCPO, Gernon, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

Robert Beale Tuesday, 07 February 2017

Two young guys called Ben graced the BBC Philharmonic platform at the Bridgewater Hall – looking almost like Ant and Dec if you let your imagination wander. Ben Gernon, 27, had just been announced as the orchestra’s new Principal Guest Conductor (while predecessor John Storgårds now rejoices in the title of Chief Guest Conductor … it almost seems a bout of alternative facts is coming on), and this was his Bridgewater Hall début.