Haydn | The Arts Desk

Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Ibragimova, Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh review - rarities, novelties and drumrolls

Alina Ibragimova: sprightly Haydn, questionable Hartmann

★★★ SCO, IBRAGIMOVA, QUEEN'S HALL Rarities, novelties and drumrolls

A pity the SCO didn't pick a better showcase for a shining guest artist

The Scottish Chamber Orchestra punches well above its weight when it comes to guest artists, and it was a big thing for them to have someone of the status of Alina Ibragimova as both soloist and guest director for this concert.

Classical CDs: Sleigh rides, pancakes and cigars

CLASSICAL CDS Big editions of Sir Thomas Beecham and Dame Joan Sutherland, and much more

Two big boxes, plus new music for brass and a pair of clarinet concertos

Joan Sutherland: The Complete Decca Recordings - Operas 1959-1970 (Decca)

Classical CDs: Elephants, bells and warm blankets

Conductor, director and archangel Michael Tilson Thomas

CLASSICAL CDS Two great conductors celebrated, medieval choral music and an eclectic vocal recital

Two great conductors celebrated, plus medieval choral music and an eclectic vocal recital

Michael Tilson Thomas: The Complete Columbia, Sony and RCA Recordings (Sony)

Tiffin Youth Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, Jurowski, RFH review - perfect detachment suits public statements

Jurowski: thoughtful programming, impeccable preparation

★★★★ LPO, JUROWSKI, RFH Poised Haydn and John Adams in a surprising sequence

Poised Haydn and John Adams in a surprising sequence

When Vladimir Jurowski planned this typically unorthodox programme, he could not have known that a disaster even greater, long-term, than 9/11 was going to befall the USA two days after the concert. There is no bad time for a tricky commemoration of the World Trade Center attacks, but close to a presidential inauguration would have been right whatever the outcome. As for an 18^th century “Mass in Time of War”, clearly Ukraine and Gaza would still be on the agenda.

Hardenberger, BBC Philharmonic, Storgårds, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - splendour and a trumpeter's voluntary

Thrilling concert music: John Storgårds conducts the BBC Philharmonic

★★★★★ HARDENBERGER, BBC PHILHARMONIC, MANCHESTER Individuality and discipline

Individuality and discipline in Strauss, Stravinsky, Haydn… and more

Two splendid pieces of orchestral virtuosity began and finished the second Saturday concert by the BBC Philharmonic under John Storgårds at the Bridgewater Hall. It was given the title of “Mischief and Magic”, an apt summary.

For mischief we had Richard Strauss’s Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, perhaps the most perfect of his orchestral tone poems in that it not only tells a story but is beautifully shaped and balanced as an extended classical rondo.

The Creation, Alder, Clayton, Mofidian, LPO, Gardner, RFH review - dancing gay in green meadows

Allan Clayton, Louise Alder, Michael Mofidian and the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus under Edward Gardner

Haydn's Genesis pleasure ground gets plenty of bounce and charm

Light and grace must flood the concert hall in Haydn’s The Creation, after a striking-for-its time evocation of Chaos, and periwigged creatures skip around the Genesis picture. With Edward Gardner keeping the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus on their dancing toes, as ever, and three fine soloists carrying the creatures’ share of the beauties, it was a good time for happy creativity.

Fung, BBC Philharmonic, Weilerstein, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - clever and comical

Playing chopstick: Zlatomir Fung as soloist with the BBC Philharmonic

★★★★ FUNG, BBC PHILHARMONIC, WEILERSTEIN, MANCHESTER Clever and comical

First UK performance of new cello concerto by Katherine Balch given with uncanny skill

Placing the UK premiere of Katherine Balch’s whisper concerto (for cello and orchestra) after Haydn’s Symphony No. 100 was probably an inspired idea from the BBC Philharmonic and conductor Joshua Weilerstein.

Classical CDs: Fringes, canons and contests

CLASSICAL CDS A great pianist celebrated, plus baroque choral music and 20th century ballet

A great pianist celebrated, plus baroque choral music, 20th century ballet and a virtuoso transcription

Leif Ove Andsnes: The Warner Classics Edition 1990-2010 (Warner Classics)

The Creation, Choirs of King's College & New College Oxford, Philharmonia, Hyde, King's College Chapel, Cambridge - sublime setting for mundane performance

Daniel Hyde directing the Choir of King's College, Cambridge

★★★ THE CREATION, KING'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE Needing more joy and better choral diction

A one-off reading which needed more joy and better choral diction

“Let his words resound on high,” sings the choir in the final chorus of The Creation. In King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, it is hard not to want to look up, to admire the splendour of the largest fan vaulting anywhere in Europe. King’s truly is hard to beat as a setting in which to hear Haydn’s oratorio.

Classical CDs: Penitence, pipe smoking and soot sprites

CLASSICAL CDS A conducting giant, Renaissance choral music and Japanese film scores

A conducting giant commemorated, plus Renaissance choral music and Japanese film scores

Otto Klemperer: The Warner Classics Remastered Edition (Warner Classics)

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