Concert Reviews

David Fray at Wigmore Hall – Schubert
David Fray has previously shown himself to be a sympathetic interpreter of Bach, but here in this BBC Lunchtime Concert he exhibited qualities that show he has a keen understanding...
Tamsin Waley-Cohen & Gemma Rosefield at The Red Hedgehog
This recital was outstanding. Furthermore, it comprised works we were unlikely to hear again, live, for quite a long time – nor played anything like so well or with this...
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center – Brandenburg Concertos
J. S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos are probably the greatest example of underappreciated commodities that eventually achieved renown. Bach sent these compositions to the Margrave of Brandenburg in 1721 as part...
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Jansons in London – 2 [Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony]
There are two principal views of Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ symphony. One is to play up its connections with his contemporary settings of the poems from “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” (bittersweet fables of...
LSO/Gergiev Emanuel Abbühl
Four dance-related pieces (three being ballet scores, the Pavane the exception) and an oboe concerto seemed like a thrown-together programme.The performances were equally mixed, the Ravel items the least inspired,...
Philharmonia Orchestra/Mackerras [Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony & Hänsel und Gretel]
Sir Charles Mackerras, in his eighty-fifth year, and looking as happy and sprightly as ever, in repertoire that he has long excelled in, ensured that the Royal Festival Hall was...
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Jansons in London – 1 [Smetana, Martinů & Brahms]
Bohuslav Martinů’s Double Concerto is arguably one of the neglected masterpieces of the last century. This arresting work was composed in 1938 for Paul Sacher and the Basle Chamber Orchestra,...
The Enchanted Pig
First performed to great acclaim at the Young Vic three years ago, Jonathan Dove’s charming opera makes a welcome return to the London stage in the intimate setting of the...
The Symphony Orchestra of The Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic in Białystok – Elgar, Karłowicz & Schumann
As the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra did recently in a Cadogan Hall concert, a piece by Elgar opened the programme, then it was In the South, this time Polonia...
BBCSO/Spano Jonathan Biss
The BBC Symphony Orchestra’s concert under Robert Spano was a wonderful example of perfectly balanced and imaginatively inventive programming.György Kurtág’s ...quasi una fantasia… complimented well the Mozart piano concerto, both...
LPO/Saraste Radu Lupu – Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto & Brahms’s First Symphony
With the London Philharmonic having played Brahms’s First Symphony at this year’s BBC Proms and then on a tour of Australia (all with Vladimir Jurowski), it seemed rather soon to...
Peter Serkin at Zankel Hall
Peter Serkin, an artist who deserves a far wider audience, lived up to his reputation for assembling programs of provocative and challenging works.Two Schoenberg works acted as bookends. Drei Klavierstücke...
Belcea Quartet & Valentin Erben at Wigmore Hall
It was gratifying to start the Belcea Quartet’s interesting programme with one of Haydn’s ‘Sun’ Quartets, works that set out new parameters and possibilities for the performing medium. The sixth...
New York Philharmonic/Dohnányi – Mozart & Bruckner
You might think that, in terms of blend and musical cohesion, the concertmaster and first violist of an orchestra would likely be ideal soloists for Mozart's Sinfonia concertante. In actuality,...
Philharmonia Orchestra/Mackerras Christine Brewer – Wagner
Wagner programmes, 'bleeding chunks' and otherwise, have become a rarity at the present time – so depriving audiences of some of the most audacious and impressive orchestral music from the...
Messiah [The English Concert/Bicket]
You don’t need to impose a contrived staging to bring out the inherent theatricality in Handel’s “Messiah”, as this magnificent Barbican performance proved. Drama, passion, spirituality and sheer joy leapt...
The Creation – OAE/Elder
Once again the instrumentalists (and their instruments) of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment beguiled the ear with distinctive timbres and ideal balances. Mark Elder, baton-less, was relaxed, a...
Imogen Cooper at Queen Elizabeth Hall/Schubert
Imogen Cooper has outstanding musical gifts, high intelligence and rare sensitivity. She has been presenting the piano works of Schubert’s last six years (for the Southbank Centre’s International Piano Series,...
Christine Brewer & Roger Vignoles at Wigmore Hall– Richard Strauss Lieder
It is perfectly possible to imagine that Christine Brewer’s voice was exactly what Richard Strauss had in mind when writing for soprano. Of his two-hundred or so Lieder, many are...
The Royal Opera – Der Rosenkavalier
This sixth revival of the late John Schlesinger's now-classic production from 1984 of Richard Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" is most welcome. It is as luxurious as any Viennese grand ball, and...
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