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”
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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”
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Nelsons. RAH, BBC Proms 26/8/25
Arvo Pärt Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten; Dvořák Violin Concerto in A minor; Sibelius Symphony No. 2 in D major. Isabelle Faust violin, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Andris Nelsons conductor Again, not a totally obvious bit of programming, but I guess the common theme is new nations asserting themselves against dominant powers (Finland/Russia – Czechia/Austro-Hungarian EmpireContinue reading “Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Nelsons. RAH, BBC Proms 26/8/25”
R.Strauss/Puccini – LSO, Pappano. RAH, BBC Proms 19/8/25
R. Strauss Die Frau ohne Schatten – Symphonic Fantasy; Puccini, Suor Angelica. Carolina López Moreno, Sister Angelica. Kseniia Nikolaieva, Princess; Elena Zilio, Monitress. Angela Schisano, Mistress of the novices. Sarah Dufresne, Sister Genovieffa. Tiffin Choir, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Antonio Pappano conductor This promised to be an exciting concert. Pappano conducting StraussContinue reading “R.Strauss/Puccini – LSO, Pappano. RAH, BBC Proms 19/8/25”
Delius, Mass of Life. RAH, BBC Proms, 18/8/25
Jennifer Davis soprano, Claudia Huckle mezzo-soprano, David Butt Philip tenor, Roderick Williams baritone. BBC Symphony Chorus, London Philharmonic Choir, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Mark Elder conductor This was a work completely new to me – and so was a ‘must’ when I saw it on the Proms schedule. I have never heard it live, neverContinue reading “Delius, Mass of Life. RAH, BBC Proms, 18/8/25”
BBC NOW, Bancroft. RAH, BBC Proms 15/8/25
Sofia Gubaidulina Revue Music for Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Band; Ravel Piano Concerto in G major ; Shostakovich Symphony No. 13 in B flat minor, ‘Babi Yar’. Benjamin Grosvenor piano, Kostas Smoriginas, bass; Synergy Vocals, BBC National Chorus of Wales (lower voices), BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Ryan Bancroft conductor Yet another Prom completely packed out…..this just wouldn’t have seemed possibleContinue reading “BBC NOW, Bancroft. RAH, BBC Proms 15/8/25”
Budapest Festival Orchestra, Ivan Fischer. RAH, BBC Proms, 6/8/25
Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A major; Bartók – Duke Bluebeard’s Castle. Dorottya Láng, Judith; Krisztián Cser, Duke Bluebeard. Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer conductor This was a late choice of Prom – it was one I flagged up when booking, decided against, dithered, and finally bought a ticket for…..The BFO and Fischer are alwaysContinue reading “Budapest Festival Orchestra, Ivan Fischer. RAH, BBC Proms, 6/8/25”
Boulez / Mahler – BBCSO, Lintu. RAH, BBC Proms 4/8/25
Boulez, Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna; Mahler Das klagende Lied (original version, 1880). Natalya Romaniw soprano; Jennifer Johnston mezzo-soprano; Russell Thomas tenor; James Newby baritone. Constanza Chorus, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu conductor It is now 57 years since I went to my first Prom. I missed out on them for manyContinue reading “Boulez / Mahler – BBCSO, Lintu. RAH, BBC Proms 4/8/25”
Faure, Penelope, Bayern Staatsoper, Prinzregententheater, Munich, 23/7/25
Conductor, Susanna Mälkki; Director, Andrea Breth; Designer, Raimund Orfeo Voigt; Costumes, Ursula Renzenbrink; Lighting, Alexander Koppelmann. Ulysse, Brandon Jovanovich; Eumée, Thomas Mole; Antinoüs, Loïc Félix; Eurymaque, Leigh Melrose; Léodès, Joel Williams; Ctésippe , Zachary Rioux; Pisandre, Dafydd Jones; A Shepherd, Soloist(s) of the Tölz Boys’ Choir; Pénélope, Victoria Karkacheva; Euryclée, Rinat Shaham; Cléone, Valerie EickhoffContinue reading “Faure, Penelope, Bayern Staatsoper, Prinzregententheater, Munich, 23/7/25”
R.Strauss, Die Liebe der Danae, Bayern Staatsoper, Munich 22/7/25
Conductor, Sebastian Weigle; Director, Claus Guth; Designer, Michael Levine; Costumes, Ursula Kudrna; Lighting, Alessandro Carletti; Jupiter, Christopher Maltman; Mercury, Ya-Chung Huang; Pollux, Vincent Wolfsteiner; Danae, Malin Byström; Xanthe, Erika Baikoff; Midas, Andreas Schager; Four Kings, Martin Snell, Bálint Szabó, Paul Kaufmann, Kevin Conners; Semele, Sarah Dufresne; Europe, Evgeniya Sotnikova; Alkmene, Emily Sierra; Leda, Avery Amereau IContinue reading “R.Strauss, Die Liebe der Danae, Bayern Staatsoper, Munich 22/7/25”
John's musical journey 