Concert Reviews – Seen and Heard International

The Jerusalem Quartet’s ultimate interpretation of Shostakovich quartets

09/06/202508/06/2025 by Jim Pritchard

United Kingdom Shostakovich Cycle: Jerusalem Quartet (Alexander Pavlosky, Sergei Bresler [violins], Ori Kam [viola], Kyril Zlotnikov [cello]). Wigmore Hall, London, 2-4.6.2025. (AK)

Jerusalem Quartet playing Shostakovich in Cleveland earlier this year © Ron Werman/CCMS

SFS world premiere of Gabriella Smith’s Rewilding delves into primal sounds

08/06/2025 by Harvey Steiman

United States R. Strauss, Sibelius, Smith: San Francisco Symphony / Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 6.6.2025. (HS)

Composer Gabriella Smith, conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony © Stefan Cohen

Randall Goosby honors Florence Price in a heartfelt Chicago Symphony performance

07/06/2025 by Zach Carstensen

United States Prokofiev, Price, Wagner: Randall Goosby (violin), Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Sir Mark Elder (conductor). Orchestra Hall, Chicago, 5.6.2025. (ZC)

Sir Mark Elder conducts violinist Randall Goosby and the CSO in Price’s Violin Concerto No.2 © Todd Rosenberg Photography

The fun-loving side of Shostakovich is revealed in this entertaining Leipzig Festival concert

06/06/2025 by Gregor Tassie

Germany ‘Between Variety and Propaganda’ – Shostakovich Festival Leipzig [9]: Salonorchester CAPPUCCINO / Albrecht Winter (violin / moderator). Mendelssohn Hall, Gewandhaus, Leipzig. 16.5.2025. (GT)

Leipzig recital by Trifonov and Szeps-Znaider of contrasting Shostakovich Violin and Piano Sonatas

06/06/202505/06/2025 by Gregor Tassie

Germany Shostakovich Festival Leipzig [8]: Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider (violin), Daniil Trifonov (piano). Gewandhaus Hall, Leipzig. 18.5.2025. (GT)

Pianist Daniil Trifonov © George Stefanou

Partnering with the Gewandhaus Quartet, Quatuor Danel’s rarely-heard Shostakovich is masterly

04/06/202503/06/2025 by Gregor Tassie

Germany Shostakovich Festival Leipzig [7]: Quatuor Danel (Marc Danel [first violin], Gilles Millet [second violin], Vlad Bogdanas [viola], Yovan Markovitch [cello]), Gewandhaus Quartet (Frank-Michael Erben [first violin], Yun-Jin Cho [second violin], Vincent Aucante [viola], Jürnjakob Timm [cello]). Mendelssohn Hall, Gewandhaus, Leipzig, 18.5.2025. (GT)

Generally fine Mozart and Tchaikovsky from the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam at Wigmore Hall

03/06/2025 by Colin Clarke

United Kingdom Mozart, Tchaikovsky: Dudok Quartet Amsterdam. Wigmore Hall, London, 1.6.2025. (CC)

Chamber Music at the Shostakovich Festival Leipzig opens with masterly performances by the Quatuor Danel

03/06/2025 by Gregor Tassie

Germany Shostakovich Festival Leipzig [6]: Quatuor Danel (Marc Danel [first violin], Gilles Millet [second violin], Vlad Bogdanas [viola], Yovan Markovich [cello]). Mendelssohn Hall, Gewandhaus, Leipzig, 17.5.2025. (GT)