United Kingdom Martinů, Fauré, Beethoven, Debussy, Britten: Gautier Capuçon (cello), Frank Braley (piano), Kings Place, London, 15.3.2017. (RB)
Robert Beattie
Sonya Yoncheva and Michael Fabiano Dominate La traviata from the Met.
United States Verdi, La traviata: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Nicola Luisotti (conductor), Met Live in HD transmitted to the Komedia Cinema, Brighton, 11.3.2017. (RB)
A Thoroughly Enjoyable Concert by the Moscow Virtuosi Orchestra
United Kingdom Shostakovich, Haydn, Bruch, Popper, Gulda, Piazzolla: Alexandra Stychkina (piano), Danielle Akta (cello), Denis Shulgin (violin), Lev Lomdin (violin), Georgy Tsay (violin), Evgeny Stambolsky (violin), Nikita Vlasov (accordion), Moscow Virtuosi Orchestra / Vladimir Spivakov (conductor), Barbican Hall, London, 8.2.2017. (RB)
A Superb Recital from Alisa Weilerstein and Inon Barnatan
United Kingdom Beethoven, Barber, Britten: Alisa Weilerstein (cello), Inon Barnatan (piano), Wigmore Hall, London, 7.3.2017. (RB)
Pablo Heras-Casado and the Philharmonia in a Stupendous Performance of The Firebird
United Kingdom Ravel, Falla, Stravinsky: Javier Perianes (piano), Philharmonia Orchestra/Pablo Heras-Casado (conductor), Royal Festival Hall, London, 2.3.2017. (RB)
PIANIST ALEXANDER KARPEYEV IN CONVERSATION WITH ROBERT BEATTIE
Alexander Karpeyev in Conversation with Robert Beattie
Alexander Karpeyev has been a major prizewinner in a number of international piano competitions including first prize at the 2007 Dudley International Piano Competition. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory and with Joan Havill at the Guildhall School of Music in London. He is a noted exponent of Medtner’s music and recently defended his doctoral thesis on the performance practice of the music of Medtner at City University of London. Last year he organised the first International Medtner Festival in the UK and he is the curator of the Pushkin House Music Salon in Bloomsbury Square which showcases Russian chamber music. He recently gave a superb recital in Kings Place which focused on Russian music composed immediately prior to the Revolution of 1917 (review).
Sir András Schiff Impresses Particularly in Bach and Janáček
United Kingdom Bach, Bartók, Janáček, Schumann: Sir András Schiff (piano), Wigmore Hall, London, 21.2.2016. (RB)
Russian Music Thrillingly Performed by Alexander Karpeyev
United Kingdom Prokofiev, Medtner, Grechaninov, Rachmaninov, Stravinsky: Alexander Karpeyev (piano), Kings Place, London, 13.2.2017. (RB)