United Kingdom Elgar: Kitty Whately (mezzo-soprano), Benjamin Hulett (tenor), James Platt (bass), Hertfordshire Chorus, London Orchestra da Camera / David Temple (conductor, chorus music director). St Albans Cathedral, Hertfordshire, 31.5.2025. (JR)
John Rhodes
Two splendid violinists compliment exhilarating Richard Strauss from Pappano and the LSO
United Kingdom R. Strauss, Mozart: Lisa Batiashvili (violin), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor), Barbican Hall, London 25.5.2025. (JR)
Exhilarating Shostakovich Seventh from the RPO under Vasily Petrenko at the Royal Festival Hall
United Kingdom Sibelius, Weill, Shostakovich – Symphony of Shadows: Roderick Williams (baritone), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Vasily Petrenko (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 27.4.2025. (JR)
Mahler 8 at the Royal Festival Hall fails to overwhelm because of video and other distractions
United Kingdom Mahler: Soloists, Tiffin Boys’ Choir (director: James Day), London Philharmonic Choir (artistic director: Neville Creed), London Symphony Chorus (chorus director: Mariana Rosas), London Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner (conductor), Royal Festival Hall, London, 26.4.2025. (JR)
Suitably dramatic and contemplative St John Passion from the AAM at the Barbican
United Kingdom Bach, St John Passion: Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Helen Charlston (alto), Nicholas Mulroy (Evangelist, tenor), Dingle Yandell (Jesus, bass), Ed Lyon (arias, tenor), Jonathan Brown (Pilate, bass), Academy of Ancient Music / Laurence Cummings (director and harpsichord). Barbican Hall, London, 18.4.2025. (JR)
Meticulous Verdi Requiem of the very highest calibre from Muti and the Philharmonia at the Festival Hall
United Kingdom Verdi, Requiem: Marie Lys (soprano), Elīna Garanča (mezzo-soprano), Piotr Beczała (tenor), William Thomas (bass), Philharmonia Chorus (chorus master: Gavin Carr) and Orchestra / Riccardo Muti (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 27.3.2025. (JR)
Glorious Nielsen from the LPO under Hannu Lintu but the surprise enjoyment was Saariaho
United Kingdom Saariaho, Prokofiev, Nielsen: Alina Ibragimova (violin), London Philharmonic Orchestra / Hannu Lintu (conductor), Royal Festival Hall, London, 26.3.2025. (JR)
Magnificent Tippett and Beethoven from Pappano and the London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra
United Kingdom Tippett, Beethoven: Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha (soprano), J’Nai Bridges (mezzo-soprano), Sean Panikkar (tenor), Solomon Howard (bass), London Symphony Chorus (chorus director: Mariana Rosas), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor), Barbican Hall, London, 23.3.2025. (JR)
