Concert Reviews – Seen and Heard International

Isata Kanneh-Mason brings a ray of freshness and light to Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto in Glasgow

03/12/2025 by Gregor Tassie

United Kingdom Various: Isata Kanneh-Mason (pianist), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra / Delyana Lazarova (conductor). City Halls, Glasgow, 27.11.2025. (GT)

Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason and conductor Delyana Lazarova © Martin Shields

Ruda Lee and ANIMA Ensemble offer a vivid ‘Four Seasons’ concert at Carnegie Hall

03/12/202503/12/2025 by Daniele Sahr

United States Various, ‘Four Seasons: A Journey of 1725-2025’: Ruda Lee (violin), AMINA Ensemble / Vivian Ip (conductor). Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, 22.11.2025. (DS)

Ruda Lee (violinist) with ANIMA ensemble © Chris Lee

Earthshaking Piano Concerto from Fazil Say and the Philharmonia Orchestra

04/12/202502/12/2025 by Alexander Verney-Elliott

United Kingdom Sibelius, Say, Dvořák: Fazil Say (piano), Philharmonia Orchestra / Santtu-Matias Rouvali (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 30.11.2025. (AV-E)

Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra © PO/Marc Gascoigne

NZSO’s night of beauty and splendour with Berlioz and Bruckner

03/12/202502/12/2025 by Peter Mechen

New Zealand Berlioz, Bruckner: Joyce DiDonato (mezzo-soprano), New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Gemma New (conductor). Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington. 28.11.2025. (PM)

Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

NZSO’s ‘Symphonic dances’ concert explores Nature, Life and Love

03/12/202502/12/2025 by Peter Mechen

New Zealand Various: Jess Gillam (alto saxophone), New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / Gemma New (conductor). Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington. 20.11.2025. (PM)

Saxophonist Jess Gillam with NZSO Principal Conductor Gemma New © Phoebe Tuxford/NZSO

Yuja Wang doubles down and Petr Popelka throws himself into the music with the Cleveland Orchestra

03/12/202501/12/2025 by Mark S Jordan

United States Ravel, Ligeti, Mussorgsky: Yuja Wang (piano), Cleveland Orchestra / Petr Popelka (conductor). Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center, Cleveland, 28.11.2025. (MSJ)

Petr Popelka conducts Mussorgsky with the Cleveland Orchestra © Human Artist Photography/TCO

Edward Gardner and the LPO shine in Robert Laidlow’s new Exoplanets, Bloch and Rachmaninov

01/12/202501/12/2025 by Chris Kettle

United Kingdom Laidlow, Bloch, Rachmaninov: Nicolas Altstaedt (cello), London Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 29.11.2025. (CK)

Manfred Honeck’s Chicago visit offers a living, breathing setting for Mozart’s Requiem

01/12/202501/12/2025 by Zach Carstensen

United States Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart: Jeanine De Bique (soprano), Avery Amereau (mezzo-soprano), Ben Bliss (tenor), Stephano Park (bass), Chicago Symphony Chorus and Orchestra / Manfred Honeck (conductor). Orchestra Hall, Chicago, 23.11.2025. (ZC)