United Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [8]: 14.8.2024. (SRT)
Sheku is inspired by Bach and Ilumina are refreshingly new in Edinburgh
Festivals
Historically informed EIF Queen’s Hall performances of chamber music: you can feel it in the gut
United 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)
For this Oramo/BBC SO Prom, it is only the Saariaho and Mozart that bring a smile
United 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)
What a delight it was to see and hear the talented young NYO musicians in stormy Wagner and epic Mahler
United 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)
San Sebastián’s disappointing Carmen falls short on emotion
Spain San Sebastián Music Fortnight – Bizet, Carmen: Easo Chorus, Euskadi Orchestra / José Miguel Pérez Sierra (conductor). Auditorio Kursaal, San Sebastián, Spain, 10.8.2024. (JMI)
Glorious Proms Fairy Queen delivered by excellent musicians and singers, and astonishing break dancers
United 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)
Suk’s ‘Asrael’ symphony brings the Bamberger Symphoniker’s residency in Edinburgh to a spectacular close
United 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)
Breathing life into Beethoven: a thrilling Triple Concerto and vibrant Fourth Symphony at Tanglewood
United States Tanglewood Festival 2024 [10] – Beethoven: Kirill Gerstein (piano), Joshua Bell (violin), Steven Isserlis (cello), Boston Symphony Orchestra / Alan Gilbert (conductor). Koussevitzky Shed, Lenox, 4.8.2024. (CSa)
