Concert Reviews – Seen and Heard International

The Barbican performance of Handel’s Jephtha took time to live up to its promise

12/05/2025 by Christopher Sallon

United Kingdom Handel, Jephtha (concert performance): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Il Pomo d’Oro / Francesco Corti (conductor). Barbican Centre, London, 7.5.2025. (CSa)

Joyce DiDonato (Storgé) with conductor Francesco Corti and Il Pomo d’Oro (chorus and orchestra) © Mark Allan

Stunning Chopin, breezy Mendelssohn, staggering Schumann from Kariv, Forés Veses and the ECO

12/05/2025 by Colin Clarke

United Kingdom Mendelssohn, Chopin, R. Schumann: Alon Kariv (piano), English Chamber Orchestra / Roberto Forés Veses (conductor). Cadogan Hall, London, 11.5.2025. (CC)

Pianist Alon Kariv playing Chopin with the English Chamber Orchestra © ECO

Mariotti illuminates the in-between at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

12/05/2025 by Edward Sava-Segal

Italy Maggio Musicale Festival 2025 – Mozart, Stravinski, Poulenc: Emöke Baráth (soprano), Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino / Michele Mariotti (conductor). Sala Zubin Mehta, Teatro del Maggio Musicale, Florence, 8.5.2025. (ES-S)

Michele Mariotti conducting the Maggio Musicale Orchestra © Michele Monasta

Thomas Crawford leads the ACO in fascinating performances of Mozart and Beethoven on period instruments

11/05/2025 by Rick Perdian

United States Mozart, Beethoven – ‘Magnificently Mozart’: Andrew Schwartz (bassoon), Petra Somlai (fortepiano), American Classical Orchestra / Thomas Crawford (conductor). Alice Tully Hall, New York, 7.5.2025. (RP)

Petra Somlai (fortepiano) with American Classical Orchestra © ACO

Many pleasing surprises in Francesco Piemontesi’s Wigmore Hall recital

11/05/202510/05/2025 by Mark Berry

United Kingdom Schubert and Liszt: Francesco Piemontesi (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 9.5.2025. (MB)

Fascinating repertoire from Nikita Lukinov at St Mary’s Perivale

10/05/2025 by Colin Clarke

United Kingdom Bach, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Debussy, Babadjanian: Nikita Lukinov (piano). St Mary’s Perivale, London, 8.5.2025. (CC)

Nilita Lukinov performing in St Mary’s Perivale

A vivid premiere caps Loggins-Hull’s tenure as Composer Fellow for Cleveland Orchestra

10/05/2025 by Mark S Jordan

United States Mozart, Loggins-Hull, Prokofiev: Cleveland Orchestra / Franz Welser-Möst (conductor). Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center, Cleveland, 8.5.2025. (MSJ)

Franz Welser-Möst conducts the Cleveland Orchestra © Extraordinaire Photos/TCO

Dramatic and exciting Haydn and Beethoven and mellifluous Brahms from Emelyanychev and the SCO

09/05/2025 by Simon Thompson

United Kingdom Brahms, Beethoven, Haydn: Yeol Eum Son (piano), Anna Dennis (soprano), Katie Bray (mezzo-soprano), Anthony Gregory (tenor), Neal Davies (bass), Scottish Chamber Chorus and Orchestra / Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor), Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 8.5.2025. (SRT)