Colin Clarke

For all the power of Rihab Chaieb’s (anti-)hero, this was a mixed Glyndebourne Carmen at the Proms

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 52 – Bizet, Carmen from Glyndebourne: Soloists, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Anja Bihlmaier (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 29.8.2024. (CC)

Bizet’s Carmen from Glyndebourne at the BBC Proms © BBC/Andy Paradise

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Zou Ye’s new symphony proves a major achievement in its London European premiere

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Zou Ye, Symphony Kūkai (2023): Charles Mutter (leader/solo violin), Rebecca Hepplewhite (solo cello), The Choir of Central Conservatory of Music, London Chinese Philharmonic Choir, Scherzo Ensemble, Orpheus Sinfonia / Derrick Morgan (conductor). Central Hall Westminster, London, 17.8.2024. (CC)

Derrick Morgan conducts Zou Ye’s Symphony Kūkai © Tianguzhiyin Culture Media Co. Ltd.

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For this Oramo/BBC SO Prom, it is only the Saariaho and Mozart that bring a smile

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 27 – Saariaho, Mozart, R. Strauss: Silja Aalto (soprano), Anssi Karttunen (cello), Seong-Jin Cho (piano), BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sakari Oramo (conductor), Chris Hopkins (offstage conductor, Alpine Symphony). Royal Albert Hall, London, 9.8.2024. (CC)

Pianist Seong-Jin Cho performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.9 in E-flat major ‘Jeunehomme’ © BBC/Mark Allan

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Consolation and utter serenity from Ton Koopman’s magnificent performance of the St John Passion

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FranceFrance Itinéraire Baroque en Périgord, 2024 [5] – Bach, Johannes-Passion, BWV 245 (1724): Amelia Berridge (soprano), Sophia Faltas (mezzo-soprano), Tilman Lichdi (tenor), Klaus Mertens (bass), Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir / Ton Koopman (conductor / harpsichord). Église de Saint-Astier, Dordogne, France. 4.8.2024. (CC)

Klaus Mertens (bass) and Ton Koopman (harpsichord) © Jean-Michel Bale

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