William Kentridge’s Met Wozzeck pits Berg’s timeless characters against a backdrop of the First World War
14/01/2020
United States Berg, Wozzeck: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor). Broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 11.1.2020. (JPr)
Peter Mattei (Wozzeck) and Elza van den Heever (Marie)
(c) Ken Howard/Met Opera
In San Francisco, plenty to chew on in new Rilke song cycle from Tilson Thomas
14/01/2020
United States Berlioz, Tilson Thomas, Mahler, Ravel: Sasha Cooke (mezzo-soprano), Ryan McKinny (bass-baritone), San Francisco Symphony / Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor). Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco. 10.1.2020. (HS)
Sasha Cooke (c) Stephanie Girard
The BBC Phil’s Blackburn concert proved to be the ideal winter warmer
13/01/2020
United Kingdom Humperdinck, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák: Aleksey Semenenko (violin), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Holly Mathieson (conductor). King George’s Hall, Blackburn, 10.1.2020. (MC)
Aleksey Semenenko © Alexander Basta
David Lang’s contemporary re-take on Fidelio fails to convince at the Barbican
13/01/2020
United Kingdom David Lang, prisoner of the state (European premiere): Soloists, BBC Singers, Students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, BBC Symphony Orchestra / Ilan Volkov (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 11.1.2020. (CC)
Jarrett Ott (The Prisoner), Alan Oke (The Governor) Julie Mathevet (The Assistant)
(c) BBC/Mark Allan
A Dvořák rarity scores over subdued Janáček in Cleveland
13/01/2020
United States Dvořák, Mozart, Janáček: Yefim Bronfman (piano), Cleveland Orchestra / Franz Welser-Möst (conductor). Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, 9.1.2020. (MSJ)
The Cleveland Orchestra & Franz Welser-Möst (conductor) (c) Roger Mastroianni
Sheku Kanneh-Mason excels in Saint-Saëns at the Fairfield Halls
13/01/2020
United Kingdom Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Ravel, Bizet: Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello), London Mozart Players / Jaime Martín (conductor), Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 12.1.2020. (CC)
Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello), London Mozart Players & Jaime Martín (conductor)
Men take centre stage in English National Ballet’s Le Corsaire
11/01/2020
United Kingdom English National Ballet’s Le Corsaire: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Gavin Sutherland (conductor). London Coliseum, 8.1.2020. (JO’D)
Erina Takahashi (Medora), Francesco Gabriele Frola (Conrad), and Jeffrey Cirio (Ali)
(c) Laurent Liotardo
Collins and Hough combine hearts and minds: definitive Brahms at Wigmore Hall
10/01/2020
United Kingdom Brahms and Beethoven: Michael Collins (clarinet), Stephen Hough (piano) Castalian String Quartet (Sini Simonen, Daniel Roberts [violins], Charlotte Bonneton [viola], Christopher Graves [cello]), Wigmore Hall, London, 6.1.2020. (CSa)
Michael Collins © Ben Ealovega
Latest Classical Music News and Reviews
- NPR
- NY Times
- BBC
- Independent News
A listener's guide for the opera-curious includes a little history, a little trash-talk and som [...]
The eclectic composer joins members of the ACME ensemble for some of his most affecting music, which [...]
When it comes to the Underground Railroad, everyone knows Harriet Tubman. But a new oratorio sheds l [...]
Watch the celebrated opera star deconstruct old Italian love songs with her signature flair, backed [...]
The irrepressible harpist proves that the instrument can be as tempestuous as a tango, as complex as [...]
A shared love for the master composer connected the Lakers legend who died on Sunday and the illustr [...]
The Berlin Philharmonic is playing with enthusiasm and precision under its new chief conductor. [...]
In his second week with the orchestra, this star conductor led works by Schubert and Mahler. [...]
Our guide to the city’s best classical music and opera happening this weekend and in the week ahead. [...]
A jumble of memorabilia, storyboards and props, an exhibit illustrates the whirl of influences behin [...]
This joyous set of Beethoven's sonatas takes its place among the very best. [...]In its own way, the Seven Words of Christ is just as sublime as the Stabat Mater. [...]This sensitive, dynamic recording is a joy, and may even constitute a revelation. [...]The pair exhibits a refined style on these illuminating performances. [...]A deeply affecting experience that ought to win the opera many new admirers. [...]Composed in 1803, at a time when Beethoven was also writing his second symphony and his third piano [...]This production has worked hard to cut the story's racist stereotypes [...]Byzantine, Aramaic, and Coptic Christian traditions are melded along with songs and chants – some of [...]While other venues closed up shop for the festive season, Wigmore Hall has flown the flag for top-qu [...]
This joyous set of Beethoven's sonatas takes its place among the very best. 
In its own way, the Seven Words of Christ is just as sublime as the Stabat Mater. 
This sensitive, dynamic recording is a joy, and may even constitute a revelation. 
The pair exhibits a refined style on these illuminating performances. 
A deeply affecting experience that ought to win the opera many new admirers. 
Composed in 1803, at a time when Beethoven was also writing his second symphony and his third piano 
This production has worked hard to cut the story's racist stereotypes 
Byzantine, Aramaic, and Coptic Christian traditions are melded along with songs and chants – some of 
While other venues closed up shop for the festive season, Wigmore Hall has flown the flag for top-qu 
