UK Concerts

All concert reviews from the UK.

The Takács Quartet pack a mighty punch in Edinburgh, though there is a little too much Esfahani baroque

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [9]: Takács Quartet (16.8), Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord, 17.8). Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 16 & 17.8.2024. (SRT)

The Takács Quartet in Queen’s Hall © Andrew Perry

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Historically informed EIF Queen’s Hall performances of chamber music: you can feel it in the gut

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [7]: Chiaroscuro Quartet (12.08), Maxim Emelyanychev (piano and Principals of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (13.8). Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 12 & 13.8.2024. (SRT)

Chiaroscuro Quartet

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For this Oramo/BBC SO Prom, it is only the Saariaho and Mozart that bring a smile

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 27 – Saariaho, Mozart, R. Strauss: Silja Aalto (soprano), Anssi Karttunen (cello), Seong-Jin Cho (piano), BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sakari Oramo (conductor), Chris Hopkins (offstage conductor, Alpine Symphony). Royal Albert Hall, London, 9.8.2024. (CC)

Pianist Seong-Jin Cho performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.9 in E-flat major ‘Jeunehomme’ © BBC/Mark Allan

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What a delight it was to see and hear the talented young NYO musicians in stormy Wagner and epic Mahler

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 30 – Wagner, Mazzoli, Howard, Mahler: Musicians from NYO Inspire, The National Youth Orchestra / Alexandre Bloch (conductor), Tess Jackson (conductor, Howard). Recorded (directed by Rhodri Huw) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 10.8.2024 and available for a limited time on BBC iPlayer. (JPr)

Alexandre Bloch conducts the National Youth Orchestra © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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Glorious Proms Fairy Queen delivered by excellent musicians and singers, and astonishing break dancers

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 24 – Purcell, The Fairy Queen: Le Jardin des Voix, Compagnie Käfig, Les Arts Florissants / Paul Agnew (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 6.8.2024. (AK)

Purcell’s The Fairy Queen at the Proms © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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Suk’s ‘Asrael’ symphony brings the Bamberger Symphoniker’s residency in Edinburgh to a spectacular close

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [6] – Dvořák, Suk: Kateřina Knĕžíkova (soprano), Adam Plachetka (bass-baritone), Edinburgh Festival Chorus (director: James Grossmith), Bamberger Symphoniker /Jakub Hrůša (conductor). Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 9.8.2024. (GT)

Jakub Hrůša with the Bamberger Symphoniker in the Usher Hall © Andrew Perry

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More diverse Queen’s Hall music at the EIF from Raphaël Feuillâtre and Stephan Dohr (and friends)

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [5]: Raphaël Feuillâtre (guitar, 9.8), Stephan Dohr (horn, 10.8), Carolin Widmann (violin, 10.8), Dénes Várjon (piano, 10.8). Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 9 & 10.8.2024. (SRT)

Guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre © Stefan Hoederath

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