Concert Reviews – Page 2 – Seen and Heard International

Boston Symphony’s ‘Decoding Shostakovich’ cycle concludes

06/05/2025 by Edward Sava-Segal

United States Shostakovich: Baiba Skride (violin), Boston Symphony Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (conductor). Symphony Hall, Boston, 3.5.2025. (ES-S)

Baiba Skride in Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No.1 © Hilary Scott

The quiet mastery of Sean Shibe at Turner Sims

06/05/202505/05/2025 by Chris Kettle

United Kingdom Various: Sean Shibe (guitar). Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton, 3.5.2025. (CK)

The Takács Quartet at the reopened Frick: lines of continuity

04/05/2025 by Edward Sava-Segal

United States Spring Music Festival – Beethoven, Janáček, Brahms: Takács Quartet (Edward Dusinberre, Harumi Rhodes [violins], Richard O’Neill [viola], András Fejér [cello]), Jeremy Denk (piano). Stephen A. Schwarzman Auditorium, Frick Collection, New York, 1.5.2025. (ES-S)

Handel’s Jephtha is presented for the first time in Madrid’s Teatro Real

04/05/2025 by José Irurzun

Spain Handel, Jephtha (concert performance): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Il Pomo d’Oro / Francesco Corti (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 1.5.2025. (JMI)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra shines under Mäkelä’s baton in Brahms, Boulez and Dvořák

04/05/2025 by Zach Carstensen

United States Brahms, Boulez, Dvořák: Daniil Trifonov (piano), Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Klaus Mäkelä (conductor). Orchestra Hall, Chicago, 2.5.2025. (ZC)

Klaus Mäkelä conducts pianist Daniil Trifonov and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra © Todd Rosenberg Photography

The Jerusalem Quartet brings their Shostakovich cycle to a visionary close in Cleveland

02/05/2025 by Mark S Jordan

United States Shostakovich Cycle [2]: Jerusalem Quartet (Alexander Pavlovsky, Sergei Bresler [violins], Ori Kam [viola], Kyril Zlotnikov [cello]). Gartner Auditorium, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, 30.4.2025. (MSJ)

The Jerusalem Quartet plays Shostakovich as part of the cycle in Cleveland © Ronald Werman/CCMS

Klaus Mäkelä leads the Chicago Symphony in a vivid Mahler’s Third Symphony

02/05/2025 by James Zychowicz

United States Mahler, Symphony No.3 in D minor: Wiebke Lehmkuhl (contralto), Uniting Voices of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Klaus Mäkelä (conductor). Symphony Center, Chicago, 25.4.2025. (JLZ)

Klaus Mäkelä conducting Wiebke Lehmkuhl (contralto) and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra © Todd Rosenberg Photography

LPO’s Ravel packs a punch and says hello to the circus

02/05/202501/05/2025 by Christopher Sallon

United Kingdom Ravel: Circa (Yaron Lifschitz [artistic director, stage and lighting designer], Libby McDonnell [costume designer]), BBC Singers, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London. 23.4.2025. (CSa)