Author Archives: John

Lunchtime recital, St.Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London – 10/10/25

Debussy Cello Sonata,  Prokofiev Cello Sonata. Piazzola  Le Grand Tango: Claudia Jablonski cello and Rustam Khanmurzin piano Claudia Jablonski is a British-Swedish cellist and conductor from London. She was a scholarship holder at the Royal Academy of Music and has performed in various venues around Europe, though this was her first appearance at St Martin-in-the-Fields.Continue reading “Lunchtime recital, St.Martin’s-in-the-Fields, London – 10/10/25”

La Cenerentola, Rossini. ENO, London Coliseum, 9/10/25

Yi-Chen Lin, Conductor; Julia Burbach, Director; Herbert Murauer, Set Designer; Sussie Juhlin-Wallén, Costume Designer; Malcolm Rippeth, Lighting Designer.  Deepa Johnny, Angelina; Simon Bailey, Don Magnifico; David Ireland, Alidoro; Grace Durham, Tisbe; Aaron Godfrey-Mayes, Don Ramiro; Charles Rice, Dandini; Isabelle Peters, Clorinda It’s over 50 years since I last saw Cenerentola, and then it was alsoContinue reading “La Cenerentola, Rossini. ENO, London Coliseum, 9/10/25”

Halle Rush Hour Concert – Bridgewater Hall, 2/10/25

Kahchun Wong conductor, Anna Lapwood organ, Sopranos and altos of the Hallé Choir, Matthew Hamilton, choral director: Max Richter, Cosmology (Hallé co-commission / Manchester premiere); Olivia Belli, Limina Luminis; Elgar, Enigma Variations This was another packed out Halle concert, though this time in their Rush Hour series -1 hour or so at 6pm, similar toContinue reading “Halle Rush Hour Concert – Bridgewater Hall, 2/10/25”

Verdi, The Sicilian Vespers, ROHCG, 26/925

Director, Stefan Herheim; Set designer, Philipp Fürhofer; Costume designer, Gesine Völlm; Lighting designer, Anders Poll; Choreographer, André de Jong. Conductor, Speranza Scappucci; Hélène, Joyce El-Khoury; Henri, Vladymyr Dytiuk ; Jean Procida, Ildebrando D’Arcangelo; Guy de Montfort, Quinn Kelsey; Robert, Vartan Gabrielian; Thibault, Neal Cooper; Le Sire de Béthune, Blaise Malaba; Le Comte de Vaudemont, ThomasContinue reading “Verdi, The Sicilian Vespers, ROHCG, 26/925”

Halle/Wong. Bridgewater Hall, 25/9/25

Kahchun Wong conductor, Truls Mørk cello. Shostakovich, Festive Overture; Elgar, Cello Concerto; Rachmaninov Symphony No.2 This was the Halle’s opening concert of the 25/26 season. The Halle, much more obviously than the BBC Phil in Manchester, has to balance innovation in concerts against the need to balance the books, and this was unashamedly a popularContinue reading “Halle/Wong. Bridgewater Hall, 25/9/25”

Elisabeth Leonskaja, Wigmore Hall, 19/9/25

Elisabeth Leonskaja, piano: Programme – Mozart, Fantasia in C minor K475; Shostakovich, Piano Sonata No. 2 in B minor Op. 61; Schubert, 3 Klavierstücke D946; Fantasy in C D760 ‘Wanderer’ After my three Proms in the Arena, my final Prom of the 25/26 season was going to be Bruckner 9 with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,Continue reading “Elisabeth Leonskaja, Wigmore Hall, 19/9/25”

Bliss/Oramo/BBCSO – RAH, BBC Proms 7/9/25

Gipps Death on the Pale Horse; Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor; Bliss The Beatitudes. Elizabeth Watts soprano, Laurence Kilsby tenor, Lukas Sternath piano, BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo conductor The programming intent with this concert was fairly obvious. Put down an evergreen favourite to draw the crowds with anContinue reading “Bliss/Oramo/BBCSO – RAH, BBC Proms 7/9/25”

Vaughan Williams, RPO Petrenko – RAH, BBC Proms 7/9/25

Respighi, Pines of Rome; Milhaud, Le boeuf sur le toit (version for violin and orchestra); Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 2 (A London Symphony). Arabella Steinbacher violin, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vasily Petrenko conductor  Petrenko and the RPO represent an A1 team, and it was surprising to be hearing them on a Sunday morning rather than anContinue reading “Vaughan Williams, RPO Petrenko – RAH, BBC Proms 7/9/25”

Golda Schultz sings Gershwin and Bernstein: RAH , BBC Proms 6/9/25

Schreker Chamber Symphony; Stravinsky The Firebird – suite; and songs/arias from: Bernstein West Side Story, Gershwin Porgy and Bess, Korngold Die tote Stadt, Stravinsky The Rake’s Progress, Weill Lost in the Stars. Golda Schultz soprano, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Robin Ticciati conductor The next three Proms I’m going to are all ones where I’m standingContinue reading “Golda Schultz sings Gershwin and Bernstein: RAH , BBC Proms 6/9/25”

Mendelssohn on Mull Festival 2025

I recently spent several days visiting the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival, which is an annual residency where the Artistic Directors – this year the Maxwell Quartet –  ‘invite eight young artists on the brink of a professional career for an immersive week of rehearsals and performances on the island of Mull’, to quote the publicityContinue reading “Mendelssohn on Mull Festival 2025”