United Kingdom Schumann and Bruckner: Renaud Capuçon (violin), London Philharmonic Orchestra / Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 9.4.2014 (MB)
Mark Berry
Haydn More Compelling than Bruckner in Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s Concert
Haydn and Bruckner: Truls Mørk (cello), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Mariss Jansons (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 4.4.2014 (MB)
Maurizio Pollini: Masterly in Beethoven
United Kingdom Beethoven: Maurizio Pollini (piano). Royal Festival Hall, London, 2.4.2014 (MB)
Sir Neville Marriner’s 90th-Birthday Celebration Concert
United Kingdom Saint-Saëns, Mozart, and Elgar: Murray Perahia (piano), Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Joshua Bell (violin/director), Sir Neville Marriner (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 1.4.2014 (MB)
Gergiev and the LSO Begin a Scriabin Cycle
United Kingdom Scriabin and Liszt: Ekaterina Sergeyeva (mezzo-soprano), Alexander Timchenko (tenor), Denis Matsuev (piano), London Symphony Chorus (Simon Halsey: chorus master), London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 30.3.2014 (MB)
A Mostly Distinguished Recital – After a Shaky Start!
United Kingdom Schubert, Stravinsky, and Kurtág: Leila Josefowicz (violin), John Novacek (piano). Milton Court Concert Hall, London, 27.3.2014 (MB)
A Refreshing Combination of Birtwistle and Carter but Adams Intrudes
United Kingdom Birtwistle, Carter, and Adams: Nash Ensemble, BBC Singers, Nicholas Kok (conductor). Wigmore Hall, London, 26.3.2014 (MB)
Great Singing in Opéra Bastille’s Problematical Zauberflöte
France Mozart, Die Zauberflöte: Soloists, Chorus of the Opéra national de Paris (chorus master: Patrick Marie Aubert), Orchestra of the Opéra national de Paris, Philippe Jordan (conductor). Opéra Bastille, Paris, 25.3.2014 (MB)