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”
Tag Archives: classical
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”
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”
Ning Feng, Wigmore Hall 16/7/25
Ning Feng, violin; Yeol Eum Son, piano. Stravinsky, Divertimento from The Fairy’s Kiss; Alfred Schnittke, Violin Sonata No. 1; Szymanowski, 3 Paganini Caprices Op. 40; Prokofiev, Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Op. 94bis This was another of those concerts I would never have made the effort to go to specially but went because IContinue reading “Ning Feng, Wigmore Hall 16/7/25”
Mozart/Beethoven/ Elgar; Ensemble 360, Crucible, Sheffield, 24/5/25
Mozart Flute Quartet in D K285; Beethoven Quintet for Piano and Wind Op.16; Elgar Piano Quintet Op.84 It’s a pity I have been to so little of the Ensemble 360 annual Chamber Music Festival – a lot of good things to go and see (20 concerts) but in the event this was only the second and last I’veContinue reading “Mozart/Beethoven/ Elgar; Ensemble 360, Crucible, Sheffield, 24/5/25”
Bartok, Berlin Philharmonic: Berlin Philharmonie,13/3/25
Berliner Philharmoniker: Jakub Hrůša, conductor, Seong-Jin Cho, piano. Janáček: Fate, Suite; Beethoven: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E flat major op. 73; Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra Sz 116 This was my first visit to the Philharmoniie in Berlin, and it’s as spectacular and impressive a building as everyone has always told meContinue reading “Bartok, Berlin Philharmonic: Berlin Philharmonie,13/3/25”
Brahms, LSO, Rattle: Barbican, 9/1/25
Boulez, Éclat; George Benjamin, Interludes and Aria from Lessons in Love and Violence (world premiere); Brahms Symphony No 4. London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle conductor; Barbara Hannigan soprano It was nice to be back in a concert hall after 4 weeks with no live music. This was not a very generous concert, time-wise [thoughContinue reading “Brahms, LSO, Rattle: Barbican, 9/1/25”
Tim Horton, piano: Sheffield, St Marie’s Cathedral. 8/11/24
Mozart 12 Variations ‘Ah Vous Dirai-Je, Maman’ K265; Schoenberg Drei Klavierstücke Op.11; Haydn Piano Sonata In D Hob.Xvi:42; Brahms Drei Intermezzi Op.117; Beethoven Piano Sonata No.23 Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’ This was a interestingly planned recital aimed at demonstrating links between the 1st and 2nd Viennese Schools via Brahms. It also took in several examples ofContinue reading “Tim Horton, piano: Sheffield, St Marie’s Cathedral. 8/11/24”
Halle Orchestra, Wong – Britten and Mahler: Bridgewater Hall, 26/9/24
Britten The Prince of the Pagodas: Suite arranged by Colin Matthews and Kahchun Wong; Mahler Symphony No 1 ‘Titan’; Kahchun Wong conductor, Halle Orchestra Kahchun Wong is Singaporean, aged 38 and has been chief conductor of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, the Japan Philharmonic, and now the Halle, as well as being principal guest conductor ofContinue reading “Halle Orchestra, Wong – Britten and Mahler: Bridgewater Hall, 26/9/24”
John's musical journey 