Classical Reviews
Classical CDs Weekly, Bach, Bartók, Piano PhantomsSaturday, 26 October 2013
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Tharaud, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, Nézet-Séguin, Royal Festival HallThursday, 24 October 2013
If ever there were a week for London to celebrate Poulenc in the lamentably under-commemorated 50th anniversary year of his death, this is it. Two major choral works and two fun concertos at last join the party. But if Figure Humaine and the Concerto for Two Pianos look like being well positioned in the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Barbican programme on Saturday, Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s chosen two were the victims of his own success in Prokofiev interpretation. Read more... |
The Chaos Orchestra presents 'The Rite', The VortexThursday, 24 October 2013
Still only a year out of college, the diversely gifted trumpeter, composer and bandleader Laura Jurd has risen rapidly to prominence, enterprisingly bypassing the ritual of hanging around to be noticed by creating her own scene and ensembles. One of these, the Chaos Collective, this week curated a small festival in which another, the Chaos Orchestra, last night performed a range of new work. Read more... |
Brahms Cycle 1: Kavakos, Dindo, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Chailly, BarbicanWednesday, 23 October 2013
For the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra’s second residency at the Barbican Centre Riccardo Chailly pulled focus on an entirely new sounding Brahms. Gone were all those bad performance practices, bad habits, from the early 20th century, gone was the lingering romanticism, the willful soupiness, and in with a vengeance came a classical rigour, a lean and hungry vitality. Read more... |
Kraggerud, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Denève, Leeds Town HallSunday, 20 October 2013
I’d not previously identified much comedic potential in Mahler’s gargantuan Sixth Symphony, a piece which would feature prominently in many people’s lists of most depressing works. Which presumably explains why this astonishing concert wasn’t a sell-out, and why the prevailing gloom prompted a fair few audience members to make an intrusive dash for the exit before the double basses sounded their final pizzicato. Read more... |
Classical CDs Weekly: Brahms, Shostakovich, TchaikovskySaturday, 19 October 2013
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BBC Singers, Endymion, Hill, Milton CourtWednesday, 16 October 2013
Milton Court’s new concert hall is a mighty small space, but the BBC Singers under their chief conductor David Hill were determined to launch their residency there with a musical epic of world events from Genesis to the post-nuclear era. And they carried it off triumphantly, if with some ear-singeing resonances, in American works from the last 66 years ringing with bright tonalities. Read more... |
War Requiem, LPO and Choir, Jurowski, Royal Festival HallSunday, 13 October 2013
Britten’s innate theatricality shines through every single bar of his War Requiem. Atmosphere, drama, suspense, and high emotionalism are to a greater or lesser degree written into the piece (something which the naysayers always latch on to). Read more... |
Classical CDs Weekly, Sean Hickey, Lang Lang, Piers LaneSaturday, 12 October 2013
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Toby Spence, Julian Milford, Wigmore HallSaturday, 12 October 2013
Toby Spence’s recovery from thyroid cancer is a cause for rejoicing, but surely it’s time we focused our attention back on his work rather than his medical condition? Apparently not. The pre-publicity for this Wigmore Hall recital made great play of the “profound insights into the human condition” that the singer acquired during his convalescence – a claim that must have ladled extra pressure onto him as he prepared his programme. Read more... |
Brahms Beloved: Symphonies 2 & 4, Clara Schumann Lieder Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi/John Axelrod, with Indra Thomas, Nicole Cabelle (sopranos) (Telarc)Pages
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