classical music reviews, news & interviews
Rachel Halliburton |
The Southbank Centre’s second Multitudes festival – which commissions artists ranging from filmmakers to acrobats to shine new light onto the orchestral repertoire – began last night in triumph with the Aurora Orchestra’s celebrated performance of Stravinsky’s The <
Boyd Tonkin |
Antonio Pappano’s pairing for last night’s Barbican concert intrigued – and, initially, baffled – me. Shostakovich’s Fifth: a clear choice, given the London Symphony Orchestra’s recent stellar accounts of the Russian’s major symphonies. Its preface, however, came in the unpredictable form of Korngold’s violin concerto, under the bow of the supremely elegant and tasteful Vilde Frang.
Robert Beale
The Northern Chamber Orchestra is unusual in that it plays almost always without a conductor. It’s been doing that for nearly 60 years, and there’s a…
graham.rickson
JS Bach: St John Passion Pygmalion/Raphaël Pichon (Harmonia Mundi)Handel: Messiah Irish Baroque Orchestra/Peter Whelan (Linn)
Image…
Robert Beale
A concert by the National Youth Orchestra is like no other. For one thing, there are 160 of them – you simply don’t get the kind of power and…
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David Nice
Electrifying Britten and Wagner under Joana Mallwitz, plus top chamber music and song
Robert Beale
Different works call for different gifts in skills and sense of musical coherence
David Nice
This year’s chorus of soloists has yet more revelations, but the overall vision’s the thing
graham.rickson
Norwegian piano miniatures, a capella choral music and an iconic wartime chamber work
David Nice
Perfectly proportioned 'Eroica' sets the seal of distinction on these visitors' tour
Robert Beale
Outrage and fun from women composers make their impact
Robert Beale
Beethoven dominates a symbolic musical link
Simon Thompson
Star power sells a concert of recently written music
Boyd Tonkin
A lavish double serving of full-flavoured masterworks
Robert Beale
Hidden gems by 20th century composers revealed
Bernard Hughes
Enticing programme is given a suitably colourful performance
graham.rickson
A great soprano live in concert, new sounds from Iceland and chamber music for strings
David Nice
The great pianist takes us on a Shakespearean journey, from Ariel and Prospero to Lear
Boyd Tonkin
The great Gospel tragedy rendered bright, swift and fierce
Rachel Halliburton
Irish fiddler sets ego aside and completely surrenders to the music
Simon Thompson
Glitzy Rachmaninov and a glittering Zemlinsky ‘Mermaid’
Simon Thompson
A great conductor returns in triumph to crown an orchestra’s anniversary celebrations
Boyd Tonkin
A master pianist dives deep into the farewell moods of Brahms and Beethoven
stephen.walsh
Big sounds needing more space but no better playing
graham.rickson
Neglected 20th century symphonies, a rediscovered violin concerto and colourful contemporary music
Rachel Halliburton
Style, sophistication and philosophical elegance
Boyd Tonkin
Styles harmonise in music of memory and mourning
Robert Beale
A haunting encounter with Cassandra Miller’s Viola Concerto
Bernard Hughes
Long-time collaborators offer great singing but some wobbly playing
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