Germany Widmann, Schumann, and Debussy: Maurizio Pollini (piano), Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 4.10.2017. (MB)
Mark Berry
Utterly Misconceived Staging Spoils the Re-Opening of Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Germany Schumann – Szenen aus Goethes Faust: Soloists, Actors, Chorus (chorus master: Martin Wright) and Children’s Chorus (chorus master: Vinzens Weissenburger) of the Staatsoper Unter Den Linden, Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 3.10.2017. (MB)
A Great Brahms Performance from Daniele Gatti and the Berliner Philharmoniker
United Kingdom Hindemith and Brahms: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Daniele Gatti (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 29.9.2017. (MB)
A Production of Der fliegende Holländer That Puts the Focus on Erik
United Kingdom Wagner – Der fliegende Holländer: Soloists, Chorus (chorus master: Jeremy Bines) and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin / Donald Runnicles (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 22.9.2017. (MB)
Alain Altinoglu’s Auspicious Debut with the Berliner Phlharmoniker
Germany Ravel, Bartók, Debussy, and Roussel: Máté Szűcs (viola), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Alain Altinoglu (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 21.9.2017. (MB)
Outstanding Schoenberg and Mahler’s Fascinating Take on Beethoven at Musikfest Berlin
Germany Musikfest Berlin [8] – Yun, Schoenberg, Nono, and Beethoven-Mahler: Christian Tetzlaff (violin), Max Hopp (speaker: Fučik), Sven Philipp (speaker: Officer), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra / Vladimir Jurowski (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 17.9.2017. (MB)
A Welcome Centenary Tribute to Isang Yun at Musikfest Berlin
United Kingdom Musikfest Berlin [7] – Isang Yun 100 Chamber Concert: Martin Glück, Fang-Yu Chung, Laura Schreyer, Ziangchen Ji, Roswitha Staega (flutes), Birgit Schmieder (oboe), Clemens Linder, Sunyung Hwang (violin), Adele Bitter (cello), Holger Groschapp (piano). Kammermusiksaal, Philharmonie, Berlin, 17.9.2017. (MB)
JUSTIN DOYLE DISCUSSES MONTEVERDI WITH MARK BERRY
Justin Doyle Discusses Monteverdi with Mark Berry
For his first concerts as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the RIAS Chamber Choir, Justin Doyle finds himself very much in at the deep end: dual-venue performances of Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers of the Blessed Virgin (at the Pierre Boulez Saal) and the Missa ‘In illo tempore’, with which it was published (just around the corner, at St Hedwig’s Cathedral). ‘Finds himself’, one might ask, or was he pushed? I was lucky enough to be able to do so, on the lunchtime in between the first, Friday evening performances, and the second ones on Saturday afternoon (the latter to be reviewed shortly).