Classical Reviews

Arcadi Volodos, Royal Festival Hall

Jessica Duchen Wednesday, 29 October 2014

Arcadi Volodos is a relatively rare visitor to London these days. Although the Russian pianist, 42, rose early to fame, his development has perhaps taken him in a direction that startles those who were initially seduced by the astounding virtuoso transcriptions – many of them his own – in which he initially established his reputation.

Leonskaja/ Pires, Dumay, Meneses, Wigmore Hall

Ismene Brown Wednesday, 29 October 2014

What a day for piano-lovers and Beethoven-lovers – Elisabeth Leonskaja for lunch, Maria João Pires for supper. Beethoven from both, stupendous playing from both, all in all generating a general sense of disbelief in this member of the audience. I mean, really! The Wigmore Hall is the epicure’s choice for music, but even by Wiggie standards this was beyond expectations.

Beatson, Scottish Ensemble, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh

Christopher Lambton Wednesday, 29 October 2014

I declare an interest. In the last 10 years or so the Scottish Ensemble has twice, at my invitation, visited the Borders village where I live, about 30 miles south of Edinburgh. On both occasions the ensemble performed a rich and challenging programme in front of a rural audience awestruck that such uncompromisingly competent music-making could descend on a village hall more accustomed to flower shows and badminton tournaments.

Malala/A Child of Our Time, Crouch End Festival Chorus, Temple, Barbican

Bernard Hughes Wednesday, 29 October 2014

James McCarthy’s oratorio Malala is both a heartfelt tribute to the young Nobel Peace laureate, Malala Yousafzai, and political statement in favour of the education of women. In it, as in its companion piece A Child of Our Time, a persecuted individual is turned into a symbol of all mankind.

RPO, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Zukerman, Royal Festival Hall

Kimon Daltas Tuesday, 28 October 2014

This concert was part of a tour of Canada’s National Arts Centre orchestra to five cities in the UK themed around the anniversary of the start of World War One. The Ottawa-based orchestra joined forces with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Choir for this London centrepiece to the tour, under the baton of violinist-turned-conductor Pinchas Zukerman.

Comment

Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Søndergård, Usher Hall, Edinburgh

Christopher Lambton Saturday, 25 October 2014

Is there an ideal way to programme Metamorphosen? Richard Strauss’s elegiac masterpiece requires 23 solo strings. That’s more than most chamber orchestras can muster, but with a full size symphony orchestra the piece leaves most of the players with nothing to do. In this Usher Hall concert the Royal Scottish National Orchestra chose to let Metamorphosen stand in glorious isolation before the interval.

Classical CDs Weekly: Bach, Prokofiev, Shostakovich

graham Rickson Saturday, 25 October 2014

quartet-lab, Wigmore Hall

David Nice Wednesday, 22 October 2014

Musical theatre needn’t be dominated by the human voice. Instrumental dramas with an element of acting can be a good way into the wonderful world of chamber music for younger audiences, and the Wigmore Hall’s new gambit of special student tickets for contemporary music paid off with the very different crowd there last night.

Classical CDs Weekly: Mahler, Poulenc, Orbert Davis

graham Rickson Saturday, 18 October 2014

Mitsuko Uchida, Royal Festival Hall

Sebastian Scotney Friday, 17 October 2014

Pianist Mitsuko Uchida's concentration, calm and grace under pressure are an inspiration. Towards the end of the first piece on her programme, played to a packed Royal Festival Hall last night, the quiet but insistent high-pitched screech of a fire alarm kept going off. Low voices on walkie-talkies at the entrances to the hall were also audible.