France Bartók: Katia and Marielle Labèque (pianos), Camille Baslé and Eric Sammut (percussion), Orchestre de Paris, Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor). Philharmonie, Paris, 21.10.2015 (MB)
Mark Berry
Philippe Jordan’s Moses und Aronan Astonishing Musical Achievement
France Schoenberg, Moses und Aron: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra national de Paris, Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine Children’s Choir of the Opéra national de Paris (chorus masters: José Luis Basso and Alessandro di Stefano) / Philippe Jordan (conductor). Opéra Bastille, Paris, 20.10.2015 (MB)
Strong Musical Values in Glyndebourne Touring’s Entführung
United Kingdom Mozart, Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Soloists, The Glyndebourne Chorus (chorus master: Jeremy Bines), Glyndebourne Tour Orchestra, Christoph Altstaedt (conductor). Glyndebourne Opera House, 15.10.2015
UK Premiere of an Intriguing Major Score by Philippe Manour at Wigmore Hall
United Kingdom Bach-Kurtág, Busoni, Manoury: Andreas Grau, Götz Schumacher (pianos), Experimental Studio des SWR (José Miguel Fernandez (sound direction), Dominik Kleinknecht (technician)). Wigmore Hall, London, 12.10.2015 (MB)
A Stimulating Recital from Jane Sheldon and Zubin Kanga
United Kingdom Berg, Schoenberg, Sdraulig, Lachenmann: Jane Sheldon (soprano), Zubin Kanga (piano). Performance Space, City University, London, 6.10.2015 (MB)
Magdalena Kožená’s Recital at the Wigmore Hall: A Mixed Pleasure
United Kingdom Schumann, Wolf, Dvořák, Schoenberg: Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), Dame Mitsuko Uchida (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 5.10.2015 (MB)
High Standards of Singing and Playing in Concert Version of Wozzeck
United Kingdom Berg, Wozzeck (concert performance): Zurich Opera Chorus, Philharmonia Zurich, Fabio Luisi (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 2.10.2015 (MB)
An Impressive Mahler Third Launches the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s 2015/16 Season
United Kingdom Mahler: Karen Cargill (mezzo-soprano), Trinity Boys Choir (chorus master: David Swinson), BBC Symphony Chorus (chorus master: Stephen Jackson), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 24.9.2015 (MB)