2020 might well be destined for the history books as the year of Covid-19, such has been the all-pervasive nature of its effects on our way of life. It has brought with it a great deal of uncertainty for the future, compliance and protest in equal measure and served as a considerable challenge to humankind, […]
The combined forces of Mexico’s most prominent conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto and the leading Spanish clarinettist Sergio Castelló López lent a slightly new sound to the Halle. The evening commenced with a rousing account of Falla’s 1914 ballet El Amor Brujo (spellbound love) which opened with an imposing Introduction & Scene carrying sounded reminiscent of […]
Led by the suave and stylish young Italian conductor Daniele Rustioni, it was a highly polished and taut Halle orchestra which delivered an extremely satisfying account of three Russian staples – Glinka’s Ruslan & Lyudmila Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Rachmaninov’s seldom heard Third Symphony. Glinka’s 1842 work (his 2nd opera) is notable for its […]
At the age of 81, Vladimir Ashkenazy appearing tonight with the Southbank Sinfonia, appears to have lost none of his warm and engaging manner. The legendary pianist, providing clear evidence here of his rapport and engagement with the young orchestra immerses himself in the art of conducting with energy and animation. The interaction with his […]
Manchester’s Northern Chamber Orchestra continue to impress. Taking advantage of the impressive acoustics of the city’s relatively new Stoller Hall, they delivered tonight a programme which showcased (albeit with slightly reduced instrumentational scoring i.e. for a chamber orchestra rather than that of a symphony orchestra) a selection of three highly popular works of the Romantic […]
Gabriela Montero returned to the Wigmore Hall tonight in an eagerly anticipated programme consisting of popular standards from the classical and romantic repertoire. The popular Venezuelan pianist, regarded particularly for her noteworthy improvisational skills, delivered an evening of music which places great demands upon the performer for varying reasons:- the light, elegant touch of Mozart, […]
BBC Proms 2018: Prom 4 Led by their Chief Conductor Juanjo Mena, the highly professional BBC Philharmonic last night delivered a polished and sure-footed performance consisting of Magnus Lindberg’s colourful and exotic Clarinet Concerto followed in the second half by Shostakovich’s epic 7th (Leningrad) Symphony. Clarinettist Mark Simpson proved to be something of a revelation […]
Staged as part of the Robeco Summer nights series, the impressive Gurzenich Orchestra of Cologne led by their energetic maestro François-Xavier Roth, performed a highly enjoyable programme which was delivered with panache to a full house at Amsterdam’s famous Concertgebouw building. Tracing their origins all the way back to 1827, this orchestra has been responsible […]