Concert Reviews – Page 16 – Seen and Heard International

Giltburg’s continuing Beethoven journey at Wigmore Hall: life-affirming, purifying, and inspiring

10/02/202509/02/2025 by Christopher Sallon

United Kingdom Beethoven: Boris Giltburg (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 1.2.2025. (CSa)

Beethoven – Piano Sonata No.9 in E, Op.14 No.1; Piano Sonata No.4 in E-flat, Op.7; Piano Sonata No.20 in G, Op.49. No.2; Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 ‘Pathétique‘; Piano Sonata No.26 in E-flat, Op81a ‘Les Adieux‘

Pianist Boris Giltburg continues his complete cycle of Beethoven’s piano sonatas at Wigmore Hall © WH

Despite stumbles, rarely-performed Shostakovich and Mahler deliver choice moments in San Francisco

08/02/2025 by Harvey Steiman

United States Shostakovich, Mahler: Kirill Gerstein (piano), San Francisco Symphony / Paavo Järvi (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, 6.2.2025. (HS)

Challenging music projected with complete conviction by the Jarualda Quartet in Shrewsbury

08/02/2025 by Chris Kettle

United Kingdom Beethoven, Britten, Ravel: Jarualda Quartet (Alex Postlethwaite, David Joyce [violin], Jane Park [viola], Ruth Henley [cello]). Gateway Arts Centre, Shrewsbury, 6.2.2025. (CK)

Late-replacement Carolin Widmann and Walton are the stars of this LSO concert

07/02/2025 by John Rhodes

United Kingdom Walker, Bernstein, Walton: Carolin Widmann (violin), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor), Barbican Hall, London 7.2.2025. (JR)

The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano © Mark Allan

Delicate instruments shine in Vivaldi and Telemann with Daphna Mor and Apollo’s Fire in Ohio

08/02/202507/02/2025 by Mark S Jordan

United States Vivaldi, Telemann – Virtuoso Brilliance’: Daphna Mor (recorder), HyunKun Cho (viola da gamba), Emi Tanabe, Chloe Fedor, Edwin Huizinga and Carrie Krause (violins), Apollo’s Fire / Alan Choo (violin and direction). First United Methodist Church, Akron, 6.2.2025. (MSJ)

Seong-Jin Cho and Ravel: precision, poetry and stamina at Carnegie Hall

08/02/202507/02/2025 by Edward Sava-Segal

United States Ravel: Seong-Jin Cho (piano). Carnegie Hall, New York, 5.5.2025. (ES-S)

Lise Davidsen finds riches with (mostly) majestic singing in her Berkeley recital

07/02/202506/02/2025 by Harvey Steiman

United States Various: Lise Davidsen (soprano), Malcolm Martineau (piano). Cal Performances, Zellerbach Hall, University of California Berkeley. 4.2.2025. (HS)

Soprano Lise Davidsen and pianist Malcolm Martineau © Katie Ravas/Drew Altizer Photography

From Brahms to Lockenkopf: Tatjana Masurenko’s viola-centric feast at LA’s Colburn School

06/02/2025 by Laurence Vittes

United States Various – Colburn Presents Viola Plus: Martin Beaver, Margaret Batjer (violins), Tatjana Masurenko (viola), Peter Lloyd (double bass), Alexandra Hötz (soprano). Los Angeles Viola Ensemble and students. Thayer Hall, Colburn School, Los Angeles, 1.2.2025. (LV)