Festival 2024

Confusing mix of styles in Maxim Emelyanchev’s approach to Mozart in Salzburg

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AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival 2024 [9] – Mozart: Isabelle Unterer (oboe), Bernhard Mitmesser (clarinet), Álvaro Canales Albert (bassoon), Paul Pitzek (horn), Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra / Maxim Emelyanchev (fortepiano / conductor). Grosser Saal, Salzburg, 25.8.2024. (MB)

Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor/piano), Álvaro Canales Albert (bassoon), Bernhard Mitmesser (clarinet), Paul Pitzek (horn) and Isabella Unterer (oboe) © SF/Marco Borrelli

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Excellent cast let down by lifeless conducting and a confusing Salzburg production of Les contes d’Hoffmann

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AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival 2024 [8] – Offenbach, Les contes d’Hoffmann: Soloists, Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Marc Minkowski (conductor). Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 24.8.2024. (MB)

Les contes d’Hoffmann: Benjamin Bernheim (Hoffmann), Kate Lindsey (Muse/Nicklausse) and Kathryn Lewek (Stella) © SF/Monika Rittershaus

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Much to enjoy in performances of Brahms and Poulenc at the Clandeboye Festival

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Clandeboye Festival 2024 [2] – Brahms, Poulenc: Barry Douglas (piano), Michel Lithiec (clarinet), Michael d’Arcy (violin), Lidia Jewloszewicz-Clarke (violin), Ed Creedon (viola), David Kenny (viola), Arto Noras (cello), Killian White (cello). Clandeboye Estate, Northern Ireland, 21.8.2024. (RB)

Violist Ed Creedon

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Disappointing Strauss from Grigorian, Dudamel and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

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AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival 2024 [7] – R. Strauss: Asmik Grigorian (soprano), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel (conductor). Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 24.8.2024 (MB)

Soprano Asmik Grigorian with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra © SF/Marco Borrelli

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Rossini’s Petite Messe solennelle in Edinburgh was given a good, if anonymous, performance

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [15] – Rossini’s Petite Messe solennelle: Catriona Hewitson, Holly Teague, Holly Brown (sopranos), Georgia Mae Ellis, Kelsey Lauritano, Hannah Bennett (altos), Liam McNally, Euan McDonald, Ferdinand Keller (tenors), Smelo Mahlangu, Jonathan Eyers, George Robarts (basses), James Baillieu and Mark Austin (pianos), Sofia Ros González (accordion). Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 24.8.2024. (SRT)

James Baillieu © David Ruano

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Riccardo Chailly’s Lucerne Mahler 7 is one of the very best

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SwitzerlandSwitzerland Lucerne Summer Festival 2024 – Mahler’s Seventh Symphony: Lucerne Festival Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Ute Feudel) from the Konzertsaal des KKL Luzern, 16.8.2024 and available on ARTE Concert until 19.8.2025. (JPr)

Riccardo Chailly conducts the Lucerne Festival Orchestra

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