Scottish Opera’s dash through Verdi’s middle and late periods is a win due to the excellent orchestra

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Scottish Opera’s The Verdi Collection: Eri Nakamura (soprano), Katherine Aitken (mezzo-soprano), Peter Auty (tenor), Lester Lynch (baritone), Jihoon Kim (bass), The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, Stuart Stratford (conductor). Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 11.2.2023. (SRT)

Scottish Opera’s The Verdi Collection: Peter Auty (tenor) and Eri Nakamura (soprano) © Sally Jubb

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Emelyanychev’s little twiddles and tweaks keeps Haydn’s Creation sounding fresh

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Haydn’s The Creation: Lydia Teuscher (soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), Hanno Müller-Brachmann (bass baritone), SCO Chorus, Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor). Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 6.10.2022. (SRT)

Maxim Emelyanychev conducts the SCO © Chris Christodoulou

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From Mälkki and her Helsinki musicians there is gripping Sibelius and a relentless new Ammann work

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2022 [16] – Sibelius, Saariaho, Dieter Ammann: Andreas Haefliger (piano), Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra / Susanna Mälkki (conductor). Usher Hall, 27.8.2022. (SRT)

Susanna Mälkki conducts Andreas Haefliger (piano) and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra © Andrew Perry

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Brandenburgs from Richard Egarr and friends is the grandest conceivable finale to EIF’s Queen’s Hall season

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2022 [15] – Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos: Musicians, Richard Egarr (harpsichord / director). Queen’s Hall, 27.8.2022. (SRT)

The Brandenburg Concertos at Queen’s Hall (Richard Egarr, far right) © Andrew Perry

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Kožená and Bronfman at Edinburgh: diverse, intelligent, communicative, highly musical

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2022 [14] – Brahms, Mussorgsky, Shostakovich, Bartók: Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), Yefim Bronfman (piano). Queen’s Hall, 26.8.2022. (SRT)

Magdalena Kožená © Harald Hoffmann

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Beauty of Mozart from Nézet-Séguin and Philadelphia Orchestra musicians in Edinburgh

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2022 [13] – Mozart Chamber Works: Yannick Nézet-Séguin (piano), Musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra (Ricardo Morales [clarinet], David Kim, Juliette Kang [violins], Choong-Jin Chang [viola], Hai-Ye Ni [cello], Harold Robinson [double bass]). Queen’s Hall, 25.8.2022. (SRT)

Philadelphia Orchestra’s Mozart Chamber Works at Queen’s Hall © Todd Rosenberg

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