United Kingdom Bell, In Parenthesis: (sung in English, Welsh, Latin and medieval Welsh) Soloists; Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera/Carlo Rizzi (conductor), Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 29.6.2016 (CC)
This Week’s Review
The Premiere of Ian Venables’ Important, Eloquent New Song Cycle
United Kingdom Venables, Vaughan Williams, Schumann, Gurney, Finzi, Quilter, Britten: Nick Pritchard (tenor); Louise Williams (viola); Benjamin Frith (piano), Perrins Hall, The Royal Grammar School, Worcester, 30.6.2016 (JQ)
Superb Playing and Singing from Opera North in Die Walküre
United Kingdom Wagner, Die Walküre: Soloists, Orchestra of Opera North, Richard Farnes (Conductor), Royal Festival Hall, London, 29.06.16. (RB)
Rattle Premieres Maxwell Davies’ Last Work Alongside Large-Scale Berlioz
United Kingdom Davies and Berlioz: Soloists, LSO Discovery Choirs (chorus masters: David Lawrence and Lucy Griffiths), London Symphony Chorus (chorus masters: Simon Halsey and Neil Ferris), Guildhall School Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 26.6.2016. (MB)
A Widmann Premiere, Inspired by Mahler’s Fifth
United States C.P.E. Bach, Widmann, Brahms: Yefim Bronfman (piano), San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor), Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco. 23.6.2016. (HS)
An Impressive Pärt-Beethoven Concert from Dohnányi and Helmchen
United Kingdom Pärt, Beethoven: Martin Helmchen (piano), Philharmonia Orchestra / Christoph von Dohnányi (conductor), Royal Festival Hall, London, 23.6.2016 (GD)
ENO’s Jenůfa Presents Human Tragedy that is Out of the Ordinary
United Kingdom Janáček, Jenůfa: Soloists, Chorus of the English National Opera (chorus master: Stephen Harris), Orchestra of the English National Opera / Mark Wigglesworth (conductor). London Coliseum, London, 23.6.2016. (MB)
Glittering Scheherazade Caps Off A Thrilling NZSO Concert In Wellington
New Zealand Kodály, Lalo, Rimsky-Korsakov: Johannes Moser (‘cello), New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Miguel Harth-Bedoya (conductor). Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington. 17.6.2016. (PM)