Classical Reviews
Classical CDs Weekly: Arnold, Brahms, Bruch, HartmannSaturday, 25 April 2015
|
LSO, Eötvös, BarbicanFriday, 24 April 2015
Time was when a Boulez concert with the LSO would have been directed by the man himself, but that is no longer possible. In Peter Eötvös they have the next best thing, a conductor who has known the man and his music for decades, whose listening ear is scarcely less acute and whose most recent appearance wth the LSO, in Lachenmann and Brahms with Maurizio Pollini, made quite miraculous music from intensive rehearsal. Read more... |
Three Tales, Ensemble BPM, IMAX Science MuseumThursday, 23 April 2015
Poised vibrantly enough between the buried-alive monotony of Philip Glass and the dynamic flights of John Adams, Steve Reich’s Three Tales deserves a special place in music-theatre history ("opera" it is not). Read more... |
Batiashvili, Staatskapelle Berlin, Barenboim, RFHWednesday, 22 April 2015
Gasps of surprise were heard across the country last month, when Richard Morrison on BBC Radio 3's "Building a Library" announced Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin as his library choice for Elgar’s Second Symphony. That recommendation proved timely for the conductor and his orchestra, who yesterday completed their short London residency with the same symphony. Read more... |
Argerich, Staatskapelle Berlin, Barenboim, RFHTuesday, 21 April 2015
It looked like a potential misalliance between performers used to looking at the stars and a programme of earthly, ideally rather broadly humorous delights. In the event, Martha Argerich, who can turn her high, lucid playing to most ends, sought out a sharp-edged wit if not a relaxed warmth in Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto. The real magic came later in the first half. But in the second, ... Read more... |
Handel Singing Competition Final, St George's Hanover SquareTuesday, 21 April 2015
You only have to look down the list of recent winners of the Handel Singing Competition – Andrew Kennedy, Elizabeth Atherton, Ruby Hughes, Sophie Junker – to see its pedigree, its knack for spotting serious talent. Yet you also only have to look down the list to realise that Handel gives sopranos an unfair advantage in a competition which gives them so much more repertoire to choose from than certain other voice types. |
Špaček, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Bělohlávek, Leeds Town HallSunday, 19 April 2015
You’ve booked the iconic Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and their charismatic chief conductor Jiří Bělohlávek to do a whistle-stop UK tour. Hoorah. But what do you get them to play? The mind boggles with programming possibilities. A symphony by Martinů? Janáček’s Taras Bulba? Suk’s Asrael? Naah – what you do, inevitably, is look at the Classic FM Hall of Fame and ask them to perform The Lark Ascending and the Bruch G minor Concerto. Read more... |
Classical CDs Weekly: CPE Bach, Busoni, VivaldiSaturday, 18 April 2015
Read more... |
DiDonato, NYPO, Gilbert, BarbicanSaturday, 18 April 2015
Visits by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra are always an adrenaline boost for musical life in London, and yesterday evening was no exception. The first concert in their brief residency took in Finnish, French and German music (plus one Russian piece – the big Swan Lake waltz for an encore), all presented with a distinctly American accent. This is an orchestra that trades in big sounds, delivered with clarity and confidence. Read more... |
DiDonato, Heggie, Brentano Quartet, Milton CourtWednesday, 15 April 2015
“I need to get a new gimmick.” Joyce DiDonato hobbled her way onto Milton Court’s stage last night, warning her audience to expect a seated performance owing to a sprained ankle. It was just six years ago she famously broke her leg during a performance of Rossini’s Il Barbiere at Covent Garden, but now, as then, she continued with no obvious dimming of intensity or focus. Read more... |
Malcolm Arnold: Symphonies 1-9 London Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox, BBC Philharmonic/Rumon Gamba (Chandos)Pages
inside classical music
latest in today
Help to give theartsdesk a future!
It all started on 09/09/09. That memorable date, September 9 2009, marked the debut of theartsdesk.com.
It followed some...
Midnight Cowboy, Southwark Playhouse - new musical cannot es...
It seems a bizarre idea. Take a pivotal film in American culture that reset the perception of The Great American Dream at this,...
Music Reissues Weekly: Motor City Is Burning - A Michigan An...
In October 1967, John Lee Hooker released a single titled “The Motor City is Burning.” The song commented on the civil unrest which had taken...
St Matthew Passion, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Whelan, St Patr...
When you’ve already come as close as possible to perfection in the greatest masterpiece, why risk a repeat performance with a difference? Because...
Thanks for Having Me, Riverside Studios review - snappily pe...
Keelan Kember’s play Thanks for Having Me may look like a vehicle for Kedar Williams-Stirling (Sex Education, Red Pitch...
Kraggerud, Irish Chamber Orchestra, RIAM Dublin review - sto...
A lot hung upon the delivery last night of Henning Kraggerud, whom I last witnessed leading performances of Strauss’s Metamorphosen and...
theartsdesk on Vinyl: Record Store Day Special 2025
Record Store Day 2025 is tomorrow (Saturday 12th April 2025)! At theartsdesk on Vinyl we’ve been sent a selection of exclusive...
Sad Book, Hackney Empire review - What we feel, what we show...
Who goes to the theatre to feel sad? That is, knowing full well that they won’t be going home with a skip in their step. Many people, it would...
Small, Hallé, Wong, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - re...
Kahchun Wong returned to the symphony with which he made his first big impression conducting the Hallé – and made a big impression with it again...
The Amateur review - revenge of the nerd
In a world of macho super-achievers like Jack Reacher and Ethan Hunt, maybe it’s time to hear it for the nerdy guys. The Amateur (based...