United Kingdom Beethoven and Messiaen:Steven Osborne (piano), Cynthia Miller (ondes-Martenot), London Symphony Orchestra, Jonathan Nott (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 29.6.2014 (MB)
Mark Berry
Excellent Student Performances of Bartók and Stravinsky
United Kingdom Bartók and Stravinsky:Students from the Royal Academy of Music, Dame Harriet Walter (narrator), Simon Wright (conductor). Hall One, Kings Place, 28.6.2014 (MB)
Pinchas Zukerman in Fine Form Both as Violinist and Conductor
United Kingdom Bach, Schoenberg, Mozart, and Mendelssohn: Arianna Zukerman (soprano), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Pinchas Zukerman (violin, conductor). Cadogan Hall, London, 27.6.2014 (MB)
Excellent Performances in an Underwhelming Rossini Opera
United Kingdom Rossini, La Gazzetta: Soloists, Chorus, Royal College of Music Opera Orchestra, Michael Rosewell (conductor). Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music, 24.6.2014 (MB)
Francesconi’s Quartett a Chessgame with People’s Souls
United Kingdom Luca Francesconi, Quartett: Soloists, Sound Intermedia, London Sinfonietta, Andrew Gourlay (conductor). Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, London, 18.6.2014 (MB)
Stunning Virtuosity and Fine Musicality from Khatia Buniatishvili
United Kingdom Ravel, Brahms, Chopin, and Stravinsky: Khatia Buniatishvili (piano). Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 4.6.2014 (MB)
Deutsche Oper’s honest, sensitive and impressive Parsifal
Germany Wagner, Parsifal: Soloists, Chorus, Men of the Extra Chorus, and Children’s Chorus of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin (chorus masters: William Spaulding, Christian Lindhorst), Opera-ballet and Statisterie of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin, Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin / Axel Kober (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 21.4.2014. (MB)
ENO’s Peter Grimes is a Must-See Production
United Kingdom Britten, Peter Grimes: Soloists, Orchestra, Chorus, and additional chorus of the English National Opera / Edward Gardner (conductor). London Coliseum, 29.1.2014. (MB)