From Mälkki and her Helsinki musicians there is gripping Sibelius and a relentless new Ammann work

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2022 [16] – Sibelius, Saariaho, Dieter Ammann: Andreas Haefliger (piano), Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra / Susanna Mälkki (conductor). Usher Hall, 27.8.2022. (SRT)

Susanna Mälkki conducts Andreas Haefliger (piano) and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra © Andrew Perry

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Brandenburgs from Richard Egarr and friends is the grandest conceivable finale to EIF’s Queen’s Hall season

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2022 [15] – Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos: Musicians, Richard Egarr (harpsichord / director). Queen’s Hall, 27.8.2022. (SRT)

The Brandenburg Concertos at Queen’s Hall (Richard Egarr, far right) © Andrew Perry

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Whispering larks and wild swans from Pekka Kuusisto and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2022 [22] – Prom 52, Debussy, Vaughan Williams, Adès, Sibelius: Pekka Kuusisto (violin), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra / Nicholas Collon (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 26.8.2022. (CS)

Pekka Kuusisto (c) Chris Christodoulou

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Kožená and Bronfman at Edinburgh: diverse, intelligent, communicative, highly musical

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2022 [14] – Brahms, Mussorgsky, Shostakovich, Bartók: Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), Yefim Bronfman (piano). Queen’s Hall, 26.8.2022. (SRT)

Magdalena Kožená © Harald Hoffmann

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A joyful Porgy and Bess at the Lucerne Festival

SwitzerlandSwitzerland Lucerne Festival [2] – Gershwin, Porgy and Bess (concert performance): Soloists, NDR Vokalensemble, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester / Alan Gilbert (conductor). Kultur- und Kongresszentrum (KKL) Luzern, Lucerne, 25.8.2022. (JR)

Alan Gilbert conducts soloists and NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester in Porgy and Bess at Lucerne © Peter Fischli/LF

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Rattle and the LSO at the Proms was a Mahler experience nobody who was there will ever forget

United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2022 [21], Prom 49 – Birtwistle, Mahler: Louise Alder (soprano), Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 24.8.2022. (CK)

Sir Simon Rattle © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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Beauty of Mozart from Nézet-Séguin and Philadelphia Orchestra musicians in Edinburgh

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2022 [13] – Mozart Chamber Works: Yannick Nézet-Séguin (piano), Musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra (Ricardo Morales [clarinet], David Kim, Juliette Kang [violins], Choong-Jin Chang [viola], Hai-Ye Ni [cello], Harold Robinson [double bass]). Queen’s Hall, 25.8.2022. (SRT)

Philadelphia Orchestra’s Mozart Chamber Works at Queen’s Hall © Todd Rosenberg

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Berkshire Opera Festival’s gripping Don Giovanni is updated but authentic

United StatesUnited States Mozart, Don Giovanni: Soloists, Berkshire Festival Opera Chorus & Orchestra / Brian Garman (conductor). Berkshire Festival Opera, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA, 23.8.2022. (RP)

Megan Moore (Donna Elvira) and Christian Zaremba (Leporello) © Matt Madison-Clark

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