Concert Reviews – Seen and Heard International

Aspen Festival finale meets expectations with Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ Concerto and The Planets

26/08/2025 by Harvey Steiman

United States Aspen Music Festival 2025 [15]: Klein Music Tent, Harris Hall, Aspen. (HS)

Concertmaster Alexander Kerr beams as pianist Yefim Bronfman and conductor Robert Spano celebrate the concerto performance © Diego Redel

Music-making of the highest possible standard from the Hagens in Gstaad

26/08/2025 by Colin Clarke

Switzerland Gstaad Menuhin Festival 2025 [1] – Ernster Humor: Hagen String Quartet with Mao Fujita (piano). Saanen Church, Switzerland, 21.8.2025. (CC)

Hagen String Quartet and pianist Mao Fujita © Gstaad Menuhin Festival/Raphael Faux

An outstanding Janine Jansen joins Klaus Mäkelä and the Concertgebouw at the Proms

27/08/202525/08/2025 by Edward Sava-Segal

United Kingdom BBC Proms 2025 [21] – Mozart, Prokofiev, Bartók: Janine Jansen (violin), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Klaus Mäkelä (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 24.8.2025. (ES-S)

Violinist Janine Jansen with conductor Klaus Mäkelä and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Ardent Saint-Saëns from Sheku and a poised Mendelssohn from Childress and the Cleveland Orchestra

26/08/202525/08/2025 by Mark S Jordan

United States Blossom Music Festival 2025 [6]: Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello), Cleveland Orchestra / Stephanie Childress (conductor). Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, 23.8.2025. (MSJ)

Stephanie Childress conducts the Cleveland Orchestra in Britten’s *Simple Symphony* © Roger Mastroianni/TCO

The Art of Fugue: Schiff and Nosrati at the peak of their artistic powers ascend Bach’s musical ‘Everest’

25/08/2025 by Christopher Sallon

United Kingdom BBC Proms 2025 [20] – J. S. Bach, The Art of Fugue: Sir András Schiff (piano), Schaghajegh Nostrati (piano). Royal Albert Hall, London, 23.8.2025. (CSa)

Sir András Schiff and Schaghajegh Nostrati

Another splendidly Boulezian programme at the Salzburg Festival

25/08/2025 by Mark Berry

United Kingdom Salzburg Festival 2025 [6] – Ravel, Boulez, Varèse: Sarah Aristidou (soprano), Klangforum Wien / Sylvain Cambreling (conductor). Haus für Mozart, Salzburg, 23.8.2025. (MB)

Klangforum Wien, soprano Sarah Aristidou and conductor Sylvain Cambreling © SF/Jan Friese

A breath of fresh air blows through St Florian Bruckner Days with Katherina Wincor

26/08/202525/08/2025 by Ken Ward

Austria St Florianer Brucknertage 2025 – Brahms, Bruckner: Altomonte Orchestra / Katherina Wincor (conductor). Sankt Florian, 22.8.2025. (KW)

Conductor Katherina Wincor © Reinhard Winkler

A distinguished recital by Barry Douglas at the Clandeboye Festival

25/08/2025 by Robert Beattie

United Kingdom Clandeboye Festival 2025 [2] – Schubert, Debussy, Beethoven: Barry Douglas (piano). Clandeboye Estate, County Down, Northern Ireland, 21.8.2025. (RB)