Festival 2024

Il Pomo d’Oro remain a class act, though Bruno de Sá is a disappointing substitute at Bayreuth Baroque

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GermanyGermany Bayreuth Baroque 2024 [1] – Gala Concert: Bruno de Sá (male soprano), Il Pomo d’Oro / Alfia Bakieva (violin/director). Markgräfliches Opernhaus, Bayreuth, 6.9.2024. (CC)

Male soprano Bruno de Sá and Il Pomo D’Oro © Clemens Manser Photography

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Excellent performances from the Berlin Phil and Jonathan Nott in a varied Musikfest programme

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GermanyGermany Musikfest Berlin 2024 [5] – Mazzoli, Eötvös, and Ives: Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano), Ernst Senff Choir (chorus master: Steffen Schubert), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Gregor A. Mayrhofer (co-conductor), Jonathan Nott (conductor). Philharmonie Berlin, 8.9.2024. (MB)

Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard at the Philharmonie Berlin with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra © Stephan Rabold

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Full-throttle celebration of Die Fledermaus at Musikfest Bremen

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Musikfest Bremen 2024 [2] – Johann Strauss II, Die Fledermaus: Soloists, Musikfest Bremen Chorus, Les Musiciens du Louvre / Marc Minkowski (conductor). Die Glocke, Bremen, 6.9.2024. (DMD)

Marc Minkowski, Alina Wunderlin, Rachel Willis-Sørensen, and Christoph Filler © Patric Leo

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Manacorda’s patient direction is amply rewarded in Musikfest Berlin’s Ives, Kloke, Mahler, and Dvořák

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GermanyGermany Musikfest Berlin 2024 [4] – Ives, Kloke, Mahler, and Dvořák: Anna Prohaska (soprano), Mahler Chamber Orchestra / Antonello Manacorda (conductor). Philharmonie Berlin, 5.9.2024. (MB)

Antonello Manacorda conducts the Mahler Chamber Orchestra © Berliner Festspiele/Fabian Schellhorn

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RPS Gold Medal for Thomas Adès and a stirring Bruckner 4 from Simon Rattle and his Bavarian orchestra

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 61 – Adès, Bruckner: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 5.9.2024. (JR)

Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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French themed evening at the Proms and a show-stopping return for the Orchestre de Paris and Klaus Mäkelä

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom PROM 58 – Debussy, Stravinsky and Berlioz: Jean-Baptiste Doulcet (piano), Orchestre de Paris / Klaus Mäkelä (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London. 3.9.2024. (CSa)

Pianist Jean-Baptiste Doulcet at the BBC Proms © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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Gerd Schaller breathes new life and faith into Bruckner’s completed Ninth

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Ebracher Musiksommer [2] – ‘Zu Bruckners Geburtstag’: Philharmonie Festiva / Gerd Schaller (conductor). Ebrach Abbey, Ebrach, Germany. 1.9.2024. (KW) Bruckner – Symphony No.9 (with finale completion by Gerd Schaller, revised 2024) Bruckner began work on his Ninth Symphony in 1887. He was just turning 63 and, although perhaps not in the best of health, he … Read more