United Kingdom Handel, Serse (Xerxes): Longborough Young Artists (Soloists and Orchestra) / Jeremy Silver (conductor). Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music, London, 30.7.2015 (MB)
Mark Berry
The Prokofiev Piano Concerto Marathon at the Proms
United Kingdom Prom 15 – Prokofiev: Daniil Trifonov, Sergei Babayan, Alexei Volodin (pianos), London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 28.7.2015 (MB)
A Wonderful Start to Leif Ove Andsnes’ Proms Survey of the Beethoven Concertos
United Kingdom Prom 9 – Beethoven and Stravinsky: Leif Ove Andsnes (piano, director), Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Royal Albert Hall, London, 23.7.2015. (MB)
Igor Levit’s Virtuosity Serves Cardew and Rzewski Compellingly
United Kingdom Cardew and Rzewski: Igor Levit (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 20.7.2015 (MB)
Matthias Goerne and Menahem Pressler: Mastery in Schumann
United Kingdom Schumann: Matthias Goerne (baritone), Menahem Pressler (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 2.7.2015 (MB)
The Heath Quartet Combine Bach and the Second Viennese School
United Kingdom Bach, Musto, Webern, and Schoenberg: Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Heath Quartet [Oliver Heath, Cerys Jones (violins), Gary Pomeroy (viola), Christopher Murray (cello)]. Wigmore Hall, London, 1.7.2015 (MB)
Bruckner and Messiaen Linked to Telling Effect
Austria Bruckner and Messiaen: Ruth Ziesak (soprano), Janina Baechle (mezzo-soprano), Benjamin Bruns (tenor), Günther Groissböck (baritone), Wiener Singakademie, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Cornelius Meister (conductor). Konzerthaus, Vienna, 23.6.2015 (MB)
Handel’s ‘Dettingen’ Te Deum: A Thrilling End to the Spitalfields Festival
United Kingdom Spitalfields Festival – Haydn, J.C. Bach, Mozart, and Handel: Ashley Riches (baritone), Polyphony, City of London Sinfonia, Stephen Layton (conductor). St Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch, London, 16.6.2015 (MB)