United Kingdom Scarlatti, Ligeti, Chopin, Messiaen, and Schumann: Antonii Baryshevskyi (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 2.3.2015 (MB)
Mark Berry
The London Sinfonietta’s ‘Spectrum of Sound’
United Kingdom Haas, Xenakis, Levi, and Vivier: London Sinfonietta, André de Ridder (conductor). Purcell Room, London, 27.2.2015 (MB)
Musical Strengths of Purcell’s Indian Queen Marred by Baleful, Self-indulgent Production
United Kingdom Purcell, The Indian Queen: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus (chorus master: Christopher Bucknall) of the English National Opera, Laurence Cummings (conductor). Coliseum, London, 26.2.2015 (MB)
Ivo Pogorelich: Truly a Law Unto Himself
United Kingdom Liszt, Schumann, Stravinsky, and Brahms: Ivo Pogorelich (piano). Royal Festival Hall, London, 24.2.2015 (MB)
Refreshed and Reinvigorated Die Zauberflöte at Covent Garden
United Kingdom Mozart, Die Zauberflöte: Soloists, Royal Opera House, Chorus (chorus master: Renato Balsadonna), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Cornelius Meister (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 23.2.2015 (MB)
The Last Act of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s London Residence Promises More Than It Delivers
Lachenmann and Mahler: Kate Royal (soprano), Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), London Symphony Chorus, CBSO Chorus (chorus director: Simon Halsey), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 15.2.2015 (MB)
A Fine Lieder Recital from Simon Bode and Igor Levit
United Kingdom Schubert, Beethoven, and Rihm: Simon Bode (tenor), Igor Levit (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 8.2.2015 (MB)
Centuries-old ‘Minimalism’ from the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
United Kingdom Parsons, Plainsong, Dunstable, Hacomplaynt, Tallis, Damett, Byttering, Henry V, Power, and Fayrfax: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury (conductor). Hall One, Kings Place, 4.3.2015 (MB)