United Kingdom Gothe, Sibelius, Nielsen: María Dueñas (violin), Philharmonia / Santtu-Matias Rouvali (conductor), Royal Festival Hall, London, 3.11.2024. (JR)
Gimmicks galore for Nordic Soundscapes: the Philharmonia under Santtu-Matias Rouvali
John Rhodes
Much to admire (despite acoustic challenges) in The Bach Choir’s War Requiem
United Kingdom Britten’s War Requiem: Elizabeth Watts (soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), Mark Stone (baritone), London Youth Choir – Junior Boys & Cambiata Boys, The Bach Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra / David Hill (conductor). Westminster Cathedral, London, 30.10.2024. (JR)
Michael Tilson Thomas returns in very good form for Mahler’s Second Symphony with the LSO
United Kingdom Mahler: Siobhan Stagg (soprano), Alice Coote (mezzo-soprano), London Symphony Chorus (Chorus Director Emeritus: Simon Halsey), London Symphony Orchestra / Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 20.10.2024. (JR)
Two contrasting Rachmaninoff works from the LPO under Edward Gardner at the Royal Festival Hall
United Kingdom Rachmaninoff: Leif Ove Andsnes (piano), Kristina Mkhitaryan (soprano), Dmytro Popov (tenor), Kostas Smoriginas (bass-baritone), London Philharmonic Choir (artistic director: Neville Creed), London Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 28.9.2024. (JR)
Final Barbican season opener from Pappano and the LSO goes off with a bang
United Kingdom Szymanowski, Chopin, Mahler: Yuja Wang (piano), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 19.9.2024. (JR)
Pappano and the LSO in the third opening concert of their Barbican season and Yuja Wang is not the star
United Kingdom Berlioz, Rachmaninoff, Saint-Saëns: Yuja Wang (piano), Anna Lapwood (organ), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Barbican Hall, London 15.9.2024. (JR)
RPS Gold Medal for Thomas Adès and a stirring Bruckner 4 from Simon Rattle and his Bavarian orchestra
United Kingdom PROM 61 – Adès, Bruckner: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 5.9.2024. (JR)
Distinguished rather than gripping St John Passion from Bach Collegium Japan and Masaaki Suzuki
United Kingdom PROM 40 – Bach, St. John Passion: Benjamin Bruns (tenor – Evangelist), Alexander Chance (countertenor), Christian Immler (bass – Jesus), Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Shimon Yoshida (tenor), Yusuke Watanabe (bass – Pilate), Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki (conductor), Royal Albert Hall, London, 19.8.2024 (JR)
