Festival 2023

Salzburg’s deeply affecting Berg and tranquil, nostalgic Mahler from Nelsons and the Vienna Philharmonic

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AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival 2023 [1] – Berg and Mahler: Augustin Hadelich (violin), Christiane Karg (soprano), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Dick Kuijs) on STAGE+ from the Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 6.8.2023. (JPr)

Andris Nelsons conducts Berg and Mahler at the Salzburg Festival 2023 © Marco Borelli

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Glyndebourne Opera’s Dialogue of the Carmelites stuns at the BBC Proms 

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Prom 31 – Poulenc, Dialogues des Carmélites: Soloists, Chorus of Glyndebourne Festival Opera, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Robin Ticciati (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 7.8.2023. (JR)

Katarina Dalayman (Madame de Croissy) © Sisi Burn

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In Gstaad, pianist Yoav Levanon is an ideal combination of interpretative insight and youthful élan.

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SwitzerlandSwitzerland Menuhin Gstaad Festival 2023 [1] – Matinée des Jeunes Étoiles IV: Schumann, Rachmaninov: Yoav Levanon (piano). Gstaad Chapel, Gstaad, Switzerland. 5.8.2023. (CC)

Yoav Levanon plays Schumann and Rachmaninov at the Menuhin Gstaad Festival 2023

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Iestyn Davies sings Handel and still sounds terrific, even when he is unwell

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [3] – Handel: Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Jupiter Ensemble / Thomas Dunford (director/lute). Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 7.8.2023. (SRT)

Ensemble Jupiter (Thomas Dunford. front centre) © Julien Benhamou

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Dala-Floda Gala earns ovations from enthusiastic audience

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SwedenSweden Dala-Floda Opera Festival 2023 [2] – Gala Concert: Soloists, Ola Ottosson, Mischa Carlberg and Alexandra Orrgård Solén (accompanists), Dala-Floda Church, Dalecarlia, 6.8.2023. (GF)

Anna Eklund Tarantino, founder and artistic director of the festival © Göran Forsling

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National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company’s sunny Cornwall with affection for the nobility

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom The 29th International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival [1] – Gilbert & Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance: Soloists and Chorus of the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, National Festival Orchestra / Murray Hipkin (conductor). Opera House, Buxton, 2.8.2023. (RJW)

The Pirates of Penzance: ‘Go, ye heroes, go to glory’ © Jane Stokes

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Contrasting pair of concerts shed light on Nicola Benedetti’s vision for the Edinburgh International Festival

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [2]: (SRT)

First Night at The Hub – Pianist Orion Weiss accompanies violinist Nicola Benedetti © Andrew Perry

Where Do We Go From Here? – Jennifer France (soprano), Nicola Benedetti and Tom Service (presenters), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra / Ryan Wigglesworth (conductor), Usher Hall, 6.8.2023.

Hans Abrahamsen – Let me tell you
Helen Grime – Virga
Elizabeth Ogonek – as though birds
Mark-Anthony Turnage – Three Screaming Popes

First Night at The Hub – Various musicians including Nicola Benedetti and Stefan Jackiw (violin), Geza & The 5 DeViLs, Orion Weiss (piano), The Hub, 6.8.2023.

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