thu 03/04/2025

Classical Reviews

Prom 12: Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Andsnes 3

Bernard Hughes

After four years, 55 cities in 22 countries and an award-winning recording, Leif Ove Andsnes’s Beethoven journey came to an end last night in an emotionally charged evening at the Royal Albert Hall. And in a delightful light-hearted moment after all the serious music making was done, Andsnes finished the concert vigorously playing the tambourine in an orchestral encore.

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Prom 10: Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Andsnes 2

Bernard Hughes

So to the second leg of Leif Ove Andsnes's journey through the Beethoven concertos, and a distressingly underpopulated Royal Albert Hall. Perhaps the punters were put off by the wintry weather, or perhaps by the dread names of Schoenberg and Stravinsky on the bill. Either way, it is shocking that Andsnes’s wonderful playing should have been to anything other than a full house.

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Prom 9: Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Andsnes 1

David Nice

Beethoven’s piano concertos have been no strangers to any Proms season. Only five years ago our own Paul Lewis embarked on a cycle not so very far, in terms of elegance and stylishness, from that of the present pianist-in-residence, Leif Ove Andsnes. Where Lewis proved a phenomenal trill-master, Andsnes’ runs and flights make his own approach especially rich and rare.

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Prom Chamber Music 1: The Cardinall's Musick, Carwood

Matthew Wright

How often do the streets of London throng with concert-goers demanding admission to a recital of Latin motets? Even for Sloane Square, the crowds hoping for a last-minute ticket to the sold-out Proms Chamber Music debut concert by The Cardinall’s Musick of Tallis and Cheryl Frances-Hoad’s world premiere were exceptional. For the most part, these music-lovers displayed excellent judgement, for this was an inspired programme and performance.

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Prom 4: CBSO, Nelsons

Sebastian Scotney

This Prom was the final concert of Andris Nelsons's remarkable seven-year spell as principal conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Their Prom showed the astonishing level of responsiveness and flexibility which he and they have achieved together, over the course of more than 300 concerts.

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Prom 1: Vogt, Maltman, BBCSO, Oramo

Gavin Dixon

So it begins. Thousands of expectant audience members in a sweltering Albert Hall – heave ho! – riotous applause for the leader as he tunes the orchestra. A few more visits and all this will seem normal again, but it’s a culture shock to be thrown straight back in on the first night.

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Classical CDs Weekly: Kit Downes, The Nash Ensemble, John Potter

graham Rickson


Kit Downes: Tricko Kit Downes (piano, organ), Lucy Railton (cello) (Coup Perdu)

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theartsdesk at the East Neuk Festival: Church strings, garden horns

David Nice

A peninsular spirit of place and the greatest of instrumentalists drew me a second time to the eastern nook (hence the “Neuk”) of Fife. But could a second report for theartsdesk be justified – wasn’t the premise the same for the 11th East Neuk Festival as it had been at the 10th? Not quite.

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Classical CDs Weekly: Medtner, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky

graham Rickson


Medtner: Piano Sonatas Alessandro Taverna (Somm)

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Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra, Cadogan Hall

Simon Broughton

2015 is the "Year of Mexico in the United Kingdom" which is why we’ ve got an exhibition on the Mayas in Liverpool, masked wrestlers Luche Libre at the Albert Hall and the country’ s leading symphony orchestra on a debut UK tour. The Mexico Philharmonic was founded at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) in 1936 and is the oldest symphony orchestra in the country.

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