Classical Reviews

Bach B Minor Mass, London Bach Singers, Feinstein Ensemble, Kings Place

Gavin Dixon Sunday, 03 April 2016

The B Minor Mass comes in many shapes and sizes. Martin Feinstein opts for a bright and bijou approach, with period instruments, one to a part, and a choir of ten. The small ensemble sometimes lacks finesse, but makes up for it in dynamism, passion, and sheer joy. There was nothing chamber-scaled about this reading: it was all big gestures and direct emotions.

Schubert Lieder, Gerhaher, Huber, Wigmore Hall

David Nice Friday, 01 April 2016

In the Wigmore's Lieder prayer meetings, baritone Christian Gerhaher is the high priest. There are good reasons for this, but given that the innermost circle of Wigmore Friends pack out his concerts, you do feel that the slightest criticism might merit lynching by the ecstatic communicants.

Capuçon, RPO, Dutoit, Royal Festival Hall

Gavin Dixon Wednesday, 30 March 2016

Charles Dutoit gets the best from the Royal Philharmonic. He conducts with broad, sweeping gestures, and the orchestra responds with dramatic immediacy and vivid colours. This concert’s programme was well chosen to play to their shared strengths, and the results were impressive: colourful Respighi, muscular Dvořák and taut, compelling Stravinsky.

Classical CDs Weekly: Elgar, Galilei, Scelsi, Vaughan Williams

graham Rickson Saturday, 26 March 2016

Vincenzo Galilei: The Well-tempered Lute Žak Osmo (lute) (Hyperion)

Des canyons aux étoiles, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dudamel, Barbican

David Nice Thursday, 24 March 2016

Art can inspire music, and vice versa. When concert (as opposed to theatre or film) scores are accompanied by images, however, the effect dilutes the impact of both; above all, the imagination stops working on the visual dimension created in the mind's eye.

Mahler 2, Coote, Tynan, RPO, Petrenko, Royal Albert Hall

Gavin Dixon Wednesday, 23 March 2016

An auspicious debut with the Royal Philharmonic for Vasily Petrenko. Just watching him conduct, it is clear that he is a natural communicator, always giving a clear, generous beat and never missing a cue. No surprise, then, that the orchestra was on his wavelength from the start last night in Mahler's Second ("Resurrection") Symphony, reflecting back all his dynamism and focus.

St Matthew Passion, Bach Choir, Florilegium, Hill, RFH

Gavin Dixon Tuesday, 22 March 2016

The annual Bach Choir St Matthew Passion is a satisfying mix of new and old. The tradition dates back to 1930, and, as was the fashion then, the choir employed is huge. Applause is kept to a minimum, another nod to tradition, as is the translation of the text into English.

Tsybuleva, Institut Français/TAM Estonia, St James Piccadilly

David Nice Monday, 21 March 2016

Cherrypicking from 17 concerts to come up with the one by last year's Leeds International Piano Competition winner may seem a bit unfair to the French Institute's ever more ambitious annual It's All About Piano! Festival.

Scenes from Faust, LSO, Harding, Barbican

Peter Quantrill Monday, 21 March 2016

Some of us have waited years for this. The opportunity to see Schumann’s largest, most ambitious work was not to be missed. For this most literary of composers, setting the Alpha and Omega of German poetry was a labour of love, which he undertook in reverse, but with progressively less reliable inspiration.