United Kingdom JS Bach, WF Bach, CPE Bach, Telemann, Haydn: LSO Chamber Orchestra, Giovanni Antonini (recorder, conductor). Milton Court Concert Hall, London, 13.1.2017. (MB)
London
Alina Cojocaru’s Otherworldly Grace in English National Ballet’s Unforgettable Giselle
United Kingdom Adolphe Adam, Giselle: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Gavin Sutherland (conductor). London Coliseum, London. 11.1.2017. (JPr)
An Engrossing Concert by the Danish String Quartet
Haydn, Schnittke and Beethoven: Danish String Quartet (Frederik Øland and Rune Tonsgaard Sørenson [violins], Asbjørn Nørgaard [voila], and Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin [cello]), Wigmore Hall, London, 9.1.2017 (CS) Haydn – String Quartet in D major Op.76 No.5 Schnittke – String Quartet No.3 Beethoven – String Quartet in E minor Op.59 No.2 ‘Razumovsky’ Alfred Schnittke’s Third String … Read more
Alfred Brendel Dispenses the Wisdom of a Lifetime’s Immersion in Schubert’s Music
United Kingdom Alfred Brendel Lecture – Schubert’s Last Sonatas: Wigmore Hall, London, 7.1.2017. (CC)
Tasmin Little: Exemplary in Szymanowski
United Kingdom Janáček, Smetana, Szymanowski and Eötvös: Tasmin Little (violin), BBC Symphony Orchestra / Edward Gardner (conductor), Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre, London, 7.1.2017. (AS)
THE SOPRANO ELISABETH MEISTER: FIGHTING BACK FROM WHAT LIFE THROWS AT YOU AND INSPIRING OTHERS
Fighting Back From What Life Throws At You And Inspiring Others: Jim Pritchard Interviews The Soprano Elisabeth Meister
One of the highlights of the recent concert performance of Die Walküre for the Saffron Opera Group was Elisabeth Meister’s wonderful Sieglinde. Peter Reed in Opera magazine described how ‘gathering depth and brilliance’ she ‘built towards an orchestra-surfing “O hehrstes Wunder!” of pulverizing grandeur’. On this site I said she just ‘got better and better’ and how ‘Meister is an intelligent singer who knows how to project her voice, and she achieved extraordinary heights of passion in Act III without pushing the voice beyond its limits.’ (For full review click here.) I also mentioned how Elisabeth was – with this performance – returning to singing after something of a hiatus to her singing career, which was set to have a meteoric rise after leaving the Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Young Artists Programme. Elisabeth has a remarkable – and inspirational – story to tell which involves losing and regaining her singing voice.
The Sitkovetsky Trio: Technically Assured but Missing a Frisson of Communication
United Kingdom Turina, Ravel, Schubert, Schumann: Sitkovetsky Trio (Alexander Sitkovetsky [violin], Danjulo Ishizaka [cello], Wu Qian [piano]), Wigmore Hall, London, 27.12.2016 (CS)
Trevor Pinnock’s 70th Birthday Concert
United Kingdom Bach, Handel, Mahler: Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord/director/conductor), Katy Bircher (flute), Rachel Podger (violin), Bojan Čičić (violin), Jane Rogers (viola), Jonathan Manson (cello), Peter McCarthy (violone), Lauryna Bendžiūnaite (soprano), Royal Academy of Music Alumni Ensemble. Wigmore Hall, 16.12.2016. (CC)