United Kingdom Prom 32 – Schoenberg, Dutilleux, Mahler: David Wilson-Johnson (narrator); Joshua Albuquerque, Matthew Gillam, Lucas Pinto (trebles); Philharmonia Voices (men’s voices); Philharmonia Orchestra / Esa-Pekka Salonen. Royal Albert Hall, London, 8.8.2016. (CC)
London
Plenty of Flames – but no Real Fire – from the Bolshoi Ballet
United Kingdom Boris Asafiev, The Flames of Paris: Soloists and Artists of the Bolshoi Ballet, Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre / Pavel Sorokin (conductor), Royal Opera House, London, 6.8.2016. (JPr)
Impressive Helen Grime Premiere, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky from BBCSSO
United Kingdom Prom 27 – Helen Grime, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky: Pekka Kuusisto (violin), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Dausgaard (conductor), Royal Albert Hall, London, 5.8.2016. (CS)
RPO under Dutoit Play Dvořák and Bartók Superbly
United Kingdom Prom 25 – Dvořák and Bartók: Alban Gerhardt (cello), Idikó Komlósi (mezzo-soprano), John Relyea (bass), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Dutoit (conductor), Royal Albert Hall, London, 3.8.2016. (AS)
Remarkable Production of Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades
United Kingdom Tchaikovsky, The Queen of Spades (sung in Russian): Soloists, Holland Park Opera Chorus; City of London Sinfonia/Peter Robinson. Opera Holland Park, Kensington, London, 2.8.2016. (CC)
Soloist and Conductor Bring Real Vividness, Light and Joy to Schumann
United Kingdom Prom 23 – Widmann, Schumann, Sibelius, Nielsen: Thomas Zehetmair (violin), Christa Schönfeldinger (glass harmonica), Teodoro Anzellotti (accordion), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / John Storgårds (conductor), Royal Albert Hall, London, 1.8.2016. (GD)
Palestinian Youth Orchestra Shows Deep Soul and Wholehearted Commitment
United Kingdom Beethoven, Rahbani Brothers, Ahmad, Fitkin, and Mussorgsky: Nai Barghouti (voice), Palestine Youth Orchestra/Sian Edwards (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 1.8.2016. (MB)
Momentum in Britten, Inflexibility in Schubert in BBC Phil Concert
United Kingdom Prom 24 – Ginastera, Britten, Schubert: Steven Osborne (Piano), BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena (Conductor), Royal Albert Hall, London, 2.7.2016 (RB)