Consummate Haydn and generic Joel Thompson from ENO’s short and skewed Seven Last Words

United KingdomUnited Kingdom English National Opera’s Seven Last Words: Nardus Williams (soprano), Idunnu Münch, (mezzo-soprano), Frederick Ballentine (tenor), Soloman Howard (bass), Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera Chorus / Eamonn Dougan (conductor, Haydn), Kellen Gray (conductor, Thompson). 13.4.2022. (CC)

[l-r] Nardus Williams, Idunnu Münch, Frederick Ballentine, Soloman Howard and ENO Chorus © Lloyd Winters

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Simply beautiful programming from wind soloists of the Orchestre Symphonique d’Orléans

FranceFrance Concours International de Piano d’Orléans: Concert by the Soloists of the Orchestre Symphonique d’Orléans (Pierre Baranger, [flute], Christophe Patrix [oboe], Olivier Petit [clarinet], Philippe Recard [bassoon], David Harnois [horn] with Chae-Um Kim [piano]). Salle de l’Institut, Orléans, France, 9.4.2022. (CC)

2020 performance of Poulenc’s Sextet on YouTube: Chae-Um Kim (piano), Pierre Baranger (flute) and David Harnois (horn)

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Manfred Honeck leads a thoughtful presentation of Mozart in Dresden  

GermanyGermany Mozart, Haydn, and Gregorian Chant: Nikola Hillebrand (soprano), Marie Henriette Reinhold (contralto), Sebastian Kohlhepp (tenor), Mikhail Timoshenko (bass), Ulrich Tukur (reciter), Dresden Chamber Choir (chorus director: Tobias Mäthger), Dresden Kreuzchor (chorus director: Karl Pohlandt), Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Manfred Honeck (conductor). Semperoper, Dresden, 11.4.2022 (MB)

Manfred Honeck (c) Oliver Killig

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BBC NOW’s Bach St Matthew Passion finally arrives in Cardiff

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Bach: Jeremy Budd (tenor, Evangelist), David Shipley (bass, Christ), Mhairi Lawson (soprano), Jess Dandy (contralto), Anthony Gregory (tenor), James Newby (bass), BBC National Chorus and Orchestra of Wales / Harry Bicket (conductor). St David’s Hall, Cardiff, 9.4.2022. (PCG)

BBC National Chorus and Orchestra of Wales

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