United Kingdom Schumann: Modigliani Quartet [Philippe Bernhard, Loïc Rio (violins), Laurent Marfaing (viola), François Kieffer (cello)], Beatrice Rana (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 30.12.2015. (MB)
London
Messiah Provides a Fitting End to the Christmas Festival at St. John’s, Smith Square
United Kingdom Handel: Katherine Watson (soprano), Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Gwilym Bowen (tenor), Neal Davies (bass), Polyphony, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Layton (conductor), St John’s, Smith Square, London, 23.12.2015. (AS)
Discerning and Penetrating Performances from Isabelle Faust and Friends
United Kingdom Sciarrino, Schumann & Schubert: Isabelle Faust (violin), Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello), Alexander Melnikov (piano), Wigmore Hall, London, 22.12.2015. (CS)
Stephen Layton Preserves the Balance and Sense of Unity in the B Minor Mass
United Kingdom Bach: Katherine Watson (soprano), Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Gwilym Bowen (tenor), Neal Davies (bass), Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Layton (conductor), St John’s, Smith Square, London, 22.12.2015. (AS)
The Pianist of Willesden Lane to Receive UK Première
The UK première of The Pianist of Willesden Lane opens at the St. James’s Theatre London on 20 January 2016 and runs until 27 February.
(c) Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Confusing Eugene Onegin with Responsive Orchestra under Bychkov at Covent Garden
United Kingdom Tchaikovsky, Eugene Onegin: Soloists, Royal Opera Chorus and Extra Chorus (chorus master: Renata Balsadonna), Dancers, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Semyon Bychkov (conductor), Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 19.12.2015. (MB)
and Nicole Car (Tatyana) (c) Bill Cooper
Vocal Music by Schütz and Christopher Fox: A Telling and Thought-Provoking Combination
United Kingdom Schütz and Fox: EXAUDI [Juliet Fraser, Rebecca Lea (sopranos), Tom Williams (countertenor), Ben Alden, Jonathan Bungard (tenor), Simon Whiteley, Jimmy Holliday (bass), Stephen Farr (organ), James Weeks (conductor)]. Wigmore Hall, London, 20.12.2015. (MB)
Belcea Quartet Excel in UK Première of Larcher’s Challenging, Impressive New String Quartet
United Kingdom Beethoven, Larcher, Brahms: Till Fellner (piano), Belcea Quartet (Corina Belcea & Axel Schacher [violins], Krzysztof Chorzelski [viola], Antoine Lederlin [cello]), Wigmore Hall, London, 19.12.2015. (CS)