Jim Pritchard

Kevin John Edusei and his Chineke! forces at the Proms send Beethoven’s call to us all

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2022 [26], Prom 61 – Walker, Beethoven: Nicole Cabell (soprano), Raehann Bryce-Davis (mezzo-soprano), Zwakele Tshabalala (tenor), Ryan Speedo Green (bass-baritone), Chineke! Voices, Chineke! Orchestra / Kevin John Edusei (conductor). Recorded (directed by Seren Irvine) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 2.9.2022, and broadcast on BBC Four. (JPr)

Kevin John Edusei conducts the Chineke! Orchestra © Mark Allan

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Alsop’s programme with her Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra was carefully curated but lacked variety

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2022 [19], Prom 36 – Bartók, Prokofiev, Hannah Eisendle, Dvořák: Benjamin Grosvenor (piano), Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra / Marin Alsop (conductor). 13.8.2022 concert recorded at the Royal Albert Hall (directed by Helen Mansfield) and available on BBC iPlayer. (JPr)

Benjamin Grosvenor

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Götterdämmerung proves an inconclusive end to Valentin Schwarz’s new Bayreuth Ring cycle

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GermanyGermany Bayreuth Festival 2022 – Wagner, Götterdämmerung: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival / Cornelius Meister (conductor). Recorded (directed by Michael Beyer) at the Bayreuther Festspielhaus on 5.8.2022 and now available on STAGE+ until 14.11.2047. (JPr)

Michael Kupfer-Radecky (Gunther) with the chorus (Vassals) © Enrico Nawrath

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Making the case for cultural freedom with their instruments, the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra at the Proms

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2022 [13], Prom 19a – Silvestrov, Chopin, Beethoven, Brahms: Anna Fedorova (piano), Liudmyla Monastyrska (soprano), Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra / Keri-Lynn Wilson (conductor). Recorded (directed by ) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 31.7.2022. Available on BBC iPlayer. (JPr)

The Ukranian Freedom Orchestra conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson  © Mark Allan/BBC

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Water flows through an otherwise oddly programmed Prom from Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2022 [10], Prom 19: Dukas, Respighi, Puccini: Soloists, Philharmonia Voices, Hallé / Sir Mark Elder (conductor). Recorded (directed by Helen Mansfield) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 30.7.2022. It is currently available on BBC iPlayer. (JPr)

Sir Mark Elder © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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