United Kingdom Prom 2 – Mussorgsky Boris Godunov (original version, 1869). Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 16.7.2016 (CC)
Colin Clarke
The Van Kuijk Quartet Excel in Mozart but Disappoint in Smetana
United Kingdom Mozart, Smetana: Van Kuijk Quartet [Nicolas Van Kuijk, Sylvain Favre-Bulle (violin); Grégoire Veccion (viola); François Robin (cello)]. Wigmore Hall, London, 17.5.2016 (CC)
A Stunning Beethoven Recital by Julia Fischer and Igor Levit
United Kingdom Beethoven: Julia Fischer (violin); Igor Levit (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 4.7.2016. (CC)
Iain Bell’s New Opera Gives Musical Expression to David Jones’ Epic World War I Poem
United Kingdom Bell, In Parenthesis: (sung in English, Welsh, Latin and medieval Welsh) Soloists; Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera/Carlo Rizzi (conductor), Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 29.6.2016 (CC)
Opera North’s Magnificent Das Rheingold Comes to London
United Kingdom Wagner Das Rheingold – semi-staged concert performance: Soloists and Orchestra of Opera North / Richard Farnes (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 28.6.2016. (CC)
Virtuosity in Abundance from Marc-André Hamelin
United Kingdom Liszt, Feinberg, Lyapounov: Marc-André Hamelin (piano). Wigmore Hall, 19.6.2016. (CC)
Haydn’s The Seasons: A Revelatory Evening
United Kingdom Haydn’s The Seasons: Carolyn Sampson (soprano, Hannah), Jeremy Ovenden (tenor, Lucas), Andrew Foster-Williams (bass-baritone, Simon), Gabrieli with members of the Wrocław Baroque Orchestra / Paul McCreesh (conductor). St John’s, Smith Square, London, 16.6.2016. (CC)
Holland Park Opera Presents Iris a Little Known Verismo Gem by Mascagni
United Kingdom Mascagni, Iris (sung in Italian): Soloists, Holland Park Opera Chorus, City of London Sinfonia/Stuart Stratford (conductor), Opera Holland Park, London, 7.6.2016. (CC)