Ravel and Mendelssohn: Sarah-Jane Brandon (soprano), Daniela Lehner (mezzo-soprano), Sir Thomas Allen (narrator), Eltham College Boys’ Choir, London Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 23.6.2011 (MB)
London
Britten well served by revival of Decker’s Peter Grimes
United Kingdom Britten, Peter Grimes: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Sir Andrew Davis (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 21.6.2011. (MB)
Three Pianists tackle three early Mozart Concertos
Mozart Unwrapped – The Early Piano Concertos: Florian Mitrea (piano); Andrejs Osokins (piano); Soojung Park (piano); Daimon Quartet (Kristine Balanas – violin; Marta Pawlowska – violin; Mihai Cocea – viola; Antonio Novais – cello), Royal Academy of Music at King’s Place, 18.6.2011. (KC)
Semi-staged Barbican Idomeneo lives up to expectations
Mozart, Idomeneo, re di Creta, K 366: (Semi-Staged Performance) Balthasar Neumann Ensemble and Choir/Thomas Hengelbrock (conductor) Barbican Hall, London, 11.6.2011 (GD)
The London Sinfonietta at London’s Meltdown Festival
Birtwistle, Maxwell Davies : Leigh Melrose (baritone), London Sinfonietta, Baldur Brönnimann (conductor), Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 16.6.2011 (Gdn)
Routine Tosca lacks lyricism and pathos
Puccini, Tosca : Soloists, chorus and orchestra of the Royal Opera. Conductor: Antonio Pappano. Covent Garden, London, 14.6.2011 (JPr)
Inspired Bruckner from Haitink compensates disappointing first half programme change
Mozart, Bruckner : Maria João Pires (piano), London Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink (conductor), Barbican Hall, London, 14.6.2011 (GDn)
Holland Park Opera makes a good job of rather poor Mascagni
Mascagni, L’amico Fritz: Soloists, Chorus of Opera Holland Park, City of London Sinfonia, Stuart Stratford (conductor), 10.6.2011 (GDn)