Festivals

The Takács Quartet pack a mighty punch in Edinburgh, though there is a little too much Esfahani baroque

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [9]: Takács Quartet (16.8), Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord, 17.8). Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 16 & 17.8.2024. (SRT)

The Takács Quartet in Queen’s Hall © Andrew Perry

Read more

A micro-managed Salzburg Mahler Ninth from Andris Nelsons and the VPO was fine, how could it not be?

by

AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival [5] – Mahler, Symphony No.9: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Leopold Knötzl) from the Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 11.8.2024 and available on STAGE+. (JPr)

Andris Nelsons conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Salzburg

Read more

Historically informed EIF Queen’s Hall performances of chamber music: you can feel it in the gut

by

United KingdomUnited 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)

Chiaroscuro Quartet

Read more

For this Oramo/BBC SO Prom, it is only the Saariaho and Mozart that bring a smile

by

United KingdomUnited 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)

Pianist Seong-Jin Cho performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.9 in E-flat major ‘Jeunehomme’ © BBC/Mark Allan

Read more

What a delight it was to see and hear the talented young NYO musicians in stormy Wagner and epic Mahler

by

United KingdomUnited 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)

Alexandre Bloch conducts the National Youth Orchestra © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Read more