Spain Rossini, L’italiana in Algeri: Liceu Chorus and Orchestra / Riccardo Frizza (conductor), Gran Theatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 17 & 18.12.2018. (JMI)
Varduhi Abrahamyan and Luca Pisaroni Are Outstanding in Liceu’s L’italiana in Algeri
This Week’s Review
Three Years Later, Nézet-Séguin’s Retake of Messiah
United States Handel, Messiah: Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Christophe Dumaux (countertenor), Jonas Hacker (tenor), Philippe Sly (bass-baritone), Westminster Symphonic Choir (director: Joe Miller), Philadelphia Orchestra / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor), Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, 8.12.2018. (BJ)
Edward Gardner Leads a Memorable Account of L’Enfance du Christ
United Kingdom Berlioz: Soloists, BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus & Orchestra / Edward Gardner (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 17.12.2018. (CC)
and Edward Gardner (conductor) (c) BBC/Mark Allan
Reverence and Distilled Beauty from Masaaki Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan
Canada Various: Joanne Lunn (soprano), Ryo Terakado (violin), Liliko Maeda (traverse flute), Masamitsu San’nomiya (oboe), Bach Collegium Japan / Masaaki Suzuki (director/continuo), Chan Centre, Vancouver, 9.12.2018. (GN)
Wonderful Strength and Cohesion in Yefim Bronfman’s Brahms
Canada Brahms, Liszt, R. Strauss: Yefim Bronfman (piano), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra / Jun Märkl (conductor), Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, 8.12.2018. (GN)
Musical Year Ends with a Big Smile: Blendulf’s Prokokiev Fifth
Switzerland Glinka, Eliasson, Prokofiev: Janine Jansen (violin), Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich / Daniel Blendulf (conductor), Tonhalle Maag, Zurich, 15.12.2018. (JR)
Kavakos, Rattle and the LSO Give an Evening of Great Music-Making
United Kingdom Brahms, Debussy and Enescu: Leonidas Kavakos (violin), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor), Barbican Centre, London, 16.12.2018. (AS)
The Divine and Devilish Anna Netrebko in Recital at Carnegie Hall
United States Various: Anna Netrebko (soprano), Jennifer Johnson Cano (mezzo-soprano), David Chan (violin), Malcolm Martineau (piano), Carnegie Hall, New York, 9.12.2018. (RP)
