The English Concert hits all the right notes gloriously with Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Berkeley

United StatesUnited States Handel, Giulio Cesare in Egitto: Soloists and orchestra of The English Concert / Harry Bicket (artistic director and harpsichord). Cal Performances, Zellerbach Hall, University of California Berkeley, 27.4.2025. (HS)

The English Concert © Dario Acosta

Read more

Michael Tilson Thomas’s 80th birthday concert favors delights over tearful goodbyes

United StatesUnited States Various: Sasha Cooke, Frederica von Stade (mezzo-sopranos), Jessica Voss (vocalist), Ben Jones (tenor), San Francisco Symphony Chorus (director:  Jenny Wong), San Francisco Symphony / Michael Tilson Thomas, Teddy Abrams, Edwin Outwater (conductors). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 26.4.2025. (HS)

Michael Tilson Thomas conducts and Edwin Outwater turns pages © Christopher M. Howard

Read more

Much to admire at Aix about Les Talens Lyriques’s Bach cantatas

FranceFrance Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival [4] – Bach: Anna El-Khashem (soprano), Mari Askvik (alto), Nick Pritchard (tenor), Adrien Fournaison (bass), Namur Chamber Choir, Les Talens Lyriques / Christophe Rousset (conductor). Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France, 20.4.2025. (CC)

Tenor Nick Pritchard and conductor Christophe Rousset © Caroline Doutre/Festival de Pâques

Read more

Aix’s carefully programmed Haydn, Tchaikovsky and Mozart is an afternoon of great beauty and power

FranceFrance Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival [3] – Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Grand Concert pour les Aixois: The Strings of Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra / Gábor Takács-Nagy (conductor). Cathédale Saint-Saveur, Aix-en-Provence, France, 20.4.2025. (CC)

Gábor Takács-Nagy conducts The Strings of Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra © Caroline Doutre/Festival de Pâques

Read more

Memorable Chan, Capuçon and OSR concert at Aix, with moments of magic beyond count in Prokofiev

FranceFrance Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival [2]: Ogonek, R. Strauss, Prokofiev: Renaud Capuçon (violin), Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Elim Chan (conductor). Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France, 19.4.2025. (CC)

Elim Chan conducts the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande © Caroline Doutre/Festival de Pâques

Read more