United Kingdom Richard Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven: Ruby Hughes (soprano), Paul Lewis (piano), Manchester Camerata/Gábor Takács-Nagy, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 22.2.2014 (MC)
Resolute Playing by Lewis in Mozart’s Concerto No 25
Manchester
Aga Mikolaj Pours Feeling into Strauss Songs
United Kingdom Richard Strauss: Aga Mikolaj (soprano), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Vassily Sinaisky (conductor), Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 8.2.2014 (MC)
Herbig Achieves Heights of Excellence in Strauss-Shostakovich Concert
United Kingdom Richard Strauss, Shostakovich: Inger Dam-Jensen (soprano), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Günther Herbig (conductor), Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 1.2. 2014 (MC)
Mena Takes Two Orchestras on a Stunning Alpine Journey
United Kingdom Richard Strauss: Roderick Williams (baritone), William Dazeley (baritone), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra & Hallé/Juanjo Mena (conductor), Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 23.1.2014 (MC)
Clarity and Resilience in Joshua Bell’s Beethoven
United Kingdom J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Brahms: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Joshua Bell (violin/director), Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 19.1.2014 (MC)
Excellent Start to Manchester’s Strauss’s Voice Series
United Kingdom Richard Strauss: Soile Isokoski (soprano), Steven Isserlis (cello), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Juanjo Mena (conductor), Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 18.1.2014 (MC)
Mature and Persuasive Playing from Simone Lamsma
United Kingdom Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninov: Simone Lamsma (violin), Hallé/Nikolaj Znaider (conductor), Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Sunday 12th January 2014 (MC)
Masterly Singing by St George’s Singers in Bach and Will Todd Premiere
United Kingdom Bach, Will Todd: Eleanor Garside (soprano), Heather Ireson (Mezzo-soprano), Thomas Morss (tenor), Matthew Kellett (baritone), St George’s Singers, Northern Baroque / Neil Taylor (conductor), The Encompass Trio [Liam Waddle (piano, Paul Wheatley (bass), Phil Steventon (drum kit)], Concert Hall, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, 15.12.2013.(RJF)