United Kingdom Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Pfitzner, and Wolf: Benjamin Appl (baritone), Graham Johnson (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 4.1.2016 (MB)
UK Concerts
All concert reviews from the UK.
The National Youth Orchestra in Need of More Experienced Leadership
United Kingdom Tchaikovsky, Korngold and Prokofiev: Tai Murray (violin), National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Nicholas Collon (conductor), Barbican Hall, London, 3.1.2016 (AS)
2015 Draws to a Close with Fine Schumann from the Modigliani Quartet
United Kingdom Schumann: Modigliani Quartet [Philippe Bernhard, Loïc Rio (violins), Laurent Marfaing (viola), François Kieffer (cello)], Beatrice Rana (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 30.12.2015. (MB)
Messiah Provides a Fitting End to the Christmas Festival at St. John’s, Smith Square
United Kingdom Handel: Katherine Watson (soprano), Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Gwilym Bowen (tenor), Neal Davies (bass), Polyphony, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Layton (conductor), St John’s, Smith Square, London, 23.12.2015. (AS)
Discerning and Penetrating Performances from Isabelle Faust and Friends
United Kingdom Sciarrino, Schumann & Schubert: Isabelle Faust (violin), Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello), Alexander Melnikov (piano), Wigmore Hall, London, 22.12.2015. (CS)
Stephen Layton Preserves the Balance and Sense of Unity in the B Minor Mass
United Kingdom Bach: Katherine Watson (soprano), Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Gwilym Bowen (tenor), Neal Davies (bass), Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Layton (conductor), St John’s, Smith Square, London, 22.12.2015. (AS)
Vocal Music by Schütz and Christopher Fox: A Telling and Thought-Provoking Combination
United Kingdom Schütz and Fox: EXAUDI [Juliet Fraser, Rebecca Lea (sopranos), Tom Williams (countertenor), Ben Alden, Jonathan Bungard (tenor), Simon Whiteley, Jimmy Holliday (bass), Stephen Farr (organ), James Weeks (conductor)]. Wigmore Hall, London, 20.12.2015. (MB)
Belcea Quartet Excel in UK Première of Larcher’s Challenging, Impressive New String Quartet
United Kingdom Beethoven, Larcher, Brahms: Till Fellner (piano), Belcea Quartet (Corina Belcea & Axel Schacher [violins], Krzysztof Chorzelski [viola], Antoine Lederlin [cello]), Wigmore Hall, London, 19.12.2015. (CS)