Concert Reviews

The complete list of posted concert reviews

Distinguished rather than gripping St John Passion from Bach Collegium Japan and Masaaki Suzuki

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 40 – Bach, St. John Passion: Benjamin Bruns (tenor – Evangelist), Alexander Chance (countertenor), Christian Immler (bass – Jesus), Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Shimon Yoshida (tenor), Yusuke Watanabe (bass – Pilate), Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki (conductor), Royal Albert Hall, London, 19.8.2024 (JR)

Masaaki Suzuki conducts Bach’s St John Passion at the BBC Proms © BBC/Mark Allan

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Outstanding account of Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet at the Clandeboye Festival

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Clandeboye Festival 2024 [1] – Schubert, R. Schumann: Barry Douglas (piano), Michael McHale (piano), Andrey Baranov, Michael D’Arcy (violins), Ed Creedon (viola), Arto Noras (cello), Clandeboye Festival, Clandeboye Estate, Northern Ireland, 17.8.2024. (RB)

Barry Douglas and Michael McHale © Michael Burch

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

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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

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

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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.

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

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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