Festivals

The exceptional Yuja Wang is a revelation at the BBC Proms both on the stage and off it

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Prom 27 – Jimmy López Bellido, Rachmaninov, Walton: Yuja Wang (piano), Thomas Hampson (baritone), BBC Symphony Chorus (chorus director: Neil Ferris) and Orchestra / Klaus Mäkelä (conductor). Recorded (directed by John Williams) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 4.8.2023 and shown on BBC Four. (JPr)

Belshazzar’s Feast at the BBC Proms 2023 © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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A feast of sonorities from Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Proms

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Prom 35 – Berg and Mahler: Leila Josefowicz (violin), BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sakari Oramo (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 10.8.2023. (CK)

Sakari Oramo conducts violinist Leila Josefowicz and the BBC SO © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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András Schiff is full of surprises at the Edinburgh International Festival

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [5] – Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven: Sir András Schiff (piano). Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, 11.8.2023. (SRT)

Sir András Schiff (during a previous concert) © Yutaka Suzuki

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John Williams returns to Tanglewood, while Jussen brothers and BSO enchant in Mendelssohn and Berlioz

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United StatesUnited States 2023 Tanglewood [5] – John Williams Film Night: Elita Kang (violin), BU Tanglewood Institute Young Artists Vocal Program Chorus (director: Penelope Bitzas / conductor: Katie Woolf), Boston Pops Orchestra / David Newman and John Williams (conductors). Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox, 5.8.2023. (CSa)

John Williams conducts Elita Kang playing the Theme from Schindler’s List at Film Night © Hilary Scott

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Only with no trace of a gimmick does it work brilliantly for Iván Fischer and his orchestra in Edinburgh

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [4] – Weber, Fanny Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn: Daniel Lozakovich (violin), Budapest Festival Orchestra / Iván Fischer (conductor), Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 10.8.2023. (SRT)

Iván Fischer conducts the Budapest Festival Orchestra at a previous concert

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The Prom performance by violinist Geneva Lewis of Grace Williams’s concerto should be eagerly sought out

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Prom 32 – Pejačević, Grace Williams, Holst: Geneva Lewis (violin), Ladies of the London Symphony Chorus, BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Jaime Martín (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 8.8.2023. (CC)

Jaime Martin conducts the BBC NOW in Holst’s The Planets © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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Verdi’s Macbeth proves infertile ground for Krzysztof Warlikowski at the Salzburg Festival

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AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival 2023 [2] – Verdi, Macbeth: Soloists, Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus, Angelika Prokopp Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Philippe Jordan (conductor). Performance of 29.7.2023 (directed by Henning Kasten) and available until 27.10.2023 on ARTE Concert. (JPr)

Krzysztof Warlikowski’s Macbeth Act II, Scene 3 © Bernd Uhlig

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