Janáček’s astonishing Mr Brouček gets a wonderful performance from Rattle, soloists, Tenebrae and LSO

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Janáček, The Excursions of Mr Brouček (‘Výlety páně Broučkovy’, concert performance): Soloists, Tenebrae; London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 4.5.2025 (CC)

The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle in The Excursions of Mr Brouček © Mark Allan/LSO

Read more

An interview with Alon Kariv who plays Chopin’s First Piano Concerto at the Cadogan Hall on Sunday 11 May

Pianist Alon Kariv in conversation with Colin Clarke

Israeli pianist Alon Kariv will play Chopin’s First Piano Concerto on Sunday, May 11 at London’s Cadogan Hall with the English Chamber Orchestra (information here). Ahead of that performance I met Alon to discuss all things piano, some previous notable performances and, of course, his relationship with Chopin and that composer’s works.

Alon Kariv © Michael Pavia

Read more

Aziz Shokhakimov’s Stravinsky allows the Strasbourg Philharmonic to show its virtuoso colours

FranceFrance Debussy (orch. Büsser), Mozart, Stravinsky: Jan Lisiecki (piano), Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg / Aziz Shokhakimov (conductor). Salle Érasme, Palais de la musique et des Congrès, Strasbourg, France, 25.2.2025. (CC)

Aziz Shokhakimov conducts pianist Jan Lisiecki and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg

Read more

Much to admire at Aix about Les Talens Lyriques’s Bach cantatas

FranceFrance Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival [4] – Bach: Anna El-Khashem (soprano), Mari Askvik (alto), Nick Pritchard (tenor), Adrien Fournaison (bass), Namur Chamber Choir, Les Talens Lyriques / Christophe Rousset (conductor). Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France, 20.4.2025. (CC)

Tenor Nick Pritchard and conductor Christophe Rousset © Caroline Doutre/Festival de Pâques

Read more

Aix’s carefully programmed Haydn, Tchaikovsky and Mozart is an afternoon of great beauty and power

FranceFrance Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival [3] – Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Grand Concert pour les Aixois: The Strings of Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra / Gábor Takács-Nagy (conductor). Cathédale Saint-Saveur, Aix-en-Provence, France, 20.4.2025. (CC)

Gábor Takács-Nagy conducts The Strings of Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra © Caroline Doutre/Festival de Pâques

Read more

Memorable Chan, Capuçon and OSR concert at Aix, with moments of magic beyond count in Prokofiev

FranceFrance Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival [2]: Ogonek, R. Strauss, Prokofiev: Renaud Capuçon (violin), Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Elim Chan (conductor). Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France, 19.4.2025. (CC)

Elim Chan conducts the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande © Caroline Doutre/Festival de Pâques

Read more

Notable young talent on violin, flute, and viola excel at Aix

FranceFrance Ravel, Fauré, Saint-Saëns – Génération @ Aix: Anneleen Lenaerts (harp/mentor), Thomas Briant (violin), Sara Ferrández (viola), Alberto Navarra (flute). Théâtre du Jeu de Palme, Aix-en-Provence, 19.4.2025. (CC)

[Clockwise from l] Anneleen Lenaerts, Thomas Briant, Sara Ferrández and Alberto Navarra

Read more

Les Arts Florissants’s perfect selection of Charpentier’s works, beautifully performed

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Leçons de Ténébres: Les Arts Florissants / William Christie (director/organ) with Ilja Aksionov (tenor) and Padraic Rowan (bass-baritone). Wigmore Hall, London, 16.4.2025. (CC)

Les Arts Florissants at the Wigmore Hall (front l-r, William Christie, Padraic Rowan and Ilja Aksionov) © Sisi Burn

Read more