Concert Reviews

The complete list of posted concert reviews

Britten’s harrowing, yet uplifting, War Requiem at the Proms will linger long in the memory

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 37 – Britten’s War Requiem, Op.66: Natalya Romaniw (soprano0, Allan Clayton (tenor), Will Liverman (baritone), Tiffin Boys’ Choir, BBC Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 17.8.2024. (KMcD)

Sir Antonio Pappano at the BBC Proms © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Read more

Zou Ye’s new symphony proves a major achievement in its London European premiere

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Zou Ye, Symphony Kūkai (2023): Charles Mutter (leader/solo violin), Rebecca Hepplewhite (solo cello), The Choir of Central Conservatory of Music, London Chinese Philharmonic Choir, Scherzo Ensemble, Orpheus Sinfonia / Derrick Morgan (conductor). Central Hall Westminster, London, 17.8.2024. (CC)

Derrick Morgan conducts Zou Ye’s Symphony Kūkai © Tianguzhiyin Culture Media Co. Ltd.

Read more

Spreading the joy with music new and old at the Sun Valley Music Festival

by

United StatesUnited States Sun Valley Music Festival [2]: Sun Valley Pavilion, Sun Valley, Idaho, 13 & 14.8.2024. (RP)

Jeremy Constant (violin), Amos Yang (cello), John Wilson (pianist) and Stephanie Childress (conductor) in Beethoven’s ‘Triple’ Concerto © Nils Ribi/SVMF

Read more

Flying the Flag at Tanglewood: Dudamel and his children’s orchestra celebrate Venezuela’s El Sistema

by

United StatesUnited States Tanglewood Festival 2024 [12] – Adams, Estévez, Ginastera, Shostakovich: National Children’s Symphony of Venezuela / Gustavo Dudamel (conductor), Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox, 8.8.2024. (CSa)

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the National Children’s Symphony of Venezuela at Tanglewood © Hilary Scott/BSO

Read more

Francisco Coll’s new Cello Concerto has its UK premiere at a storytelling BBC SO Prom

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 38 – Dukas, Coll, Puccini, Stravinsky: Sol Gabetta (violoncello), BBC Symphony Orchestra / Tianyi Lu (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 18.8.2024. (AK)

Tianyi Lu conducts the BBC SO at the BBC Proms © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Read more

The Takács Quartet pack a mighty punch in Edinburgh, though there is a little too much Esfahani baroque

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [9]: Takács Quartet (16.8), Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord, 17.8). Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 16 & 17.8.2024. (SRT)

The Takács Quartet in Queen’s Hall © Andrew Perry

Read more

A micro-managed Salzburg Mahler Ninth from Andris Nelsons and the VPO was fine, how could it not be?

by

AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival [5] – Mahler, Symphony No.9: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Leopold Knötzl) from the Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 11.8.2024 and available on STAGE+. (JPr)

Andris Nelsons conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Salzburg

Read more