Saariaho Lumière et pesanteur; Mahler Rückert-Lieder; Mahler Symphony No. 4 in G major. Joyce DiDonato mezzo-soprano; The Met Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin conductor The main attractions here for me were the Saariaho piece and hearing Joyce di Donato sing the Rückert-Lieder. I have tried to ration my experiences live of Mahler symphonies since the Leipzig MahlerContinue reading “Mahler, The Met Orchestra. RAH BBC Proms 27/8/26”
Tag Archives: classical-music
Lunchtime Piano recital, St Pancras Church, Euston Rd., London 27/8/26
Callum McLachlan, piano: Orlando Gibbons: Lord Salisbury’s Pavanne; Beethoven: Piano Sonata in A op 101; Ravel: Miroirs; Rachmaninov: Etude Tableau op 39/9 Callum McLachlan is 25 and a veteran of various music competitions – a finalist of the 18th International Robert Schumann Competition Zwickau among others. He was at Chetham’s School of Music, then TrinityContinue reading “Lunchtime Piano recital, St Pancras Church, Euston Rd., London 27/8/26”
Wagner, Rienzi: Bayreuth Festival, 17/8/26
Conductor: Nathalie Stutzmann; Director, Stage design and Costumes: Alexandra Szemerédy, Magdolna Parditka: Rienzi, Andreas Schager; Irene, Gabriela Scherer; Colonna: Andreas Bauer Kanabas; Adriano, Jennifer Holloway; Orsini: Michael Nagy; Cardinal Raimondo, Vitalij Kowaljow; Baroncelli: Matthias Stier; Cecco del Vecchio: Michael Kupfer-Radecky And so to Bayreuth, to Rienzi, the only performance I could get a ticket forContinue reading “Wagner, Rienzi: Bayreuth Festival, 17/8/26”
Andras Schiff, piano: Stiftung Mozarteum – Grosser Saal. Salzburg Festival. 13/8/26
Works by Bach and Mozart to be announced from the stage I am staying slightly out of Salzburg city centre, towards the north east of the town and near the river. It’s about a 35 minute pleasant walk along the river (not too low, despite the drought), and I took this route before the concertContinue reading “Andras Schiff, piano: Stiftung Mozarteum – Grosser Saal. Salzburg Festival. 13/8/26”
Bizet, Carmen: Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg Festival: 12/8/26
Teodor Currentzis Conductor; Gabriela Carrizo Director / Choreography; Christof Hetzer Sets / Costumes; Tom Visser Lighting. Asmik Grigorian Carmen; Jonathan Tetelman Don José; Kristina Mkhitaryan Micaëla; Davide Luciano Escamillo; Iveta Simonyan Frasquita; Anita Monserrat Mercédès; Matthias Winckhler Zuniga; Liviu Holender Moralès. Utopia Choir, Salzburg Bach Choir; Salzburger Festspiele und Theater Kinderchor , Utopia Orchestra I hadContinue reading “Bizet, Carmen: Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg Festival: 12/8/26”
Bartok, Stravinsky, Berg. RAH BBC Proms 10/8/26
Stravinsky Symphony in Three Movements; Berg Violin Concerto; Bartók Concerto for Orchestra. Vilde Frang violin; Juilliard Orchestra, Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen conductor I caught this Prom concert en route from my home to Salzburg, with an evening to spare in London before an early Eurostar train. I remember Salonen conducting theContinue reading “Bartok, Stravinsky, Berg. RAH BBC Proms 10/8/26”
R.Strauss: Gardner, LPO. RAH BBC Proms 27/7/26
Kristine Tjøgersen, Between Trees; Canteloube, Songs of the Auvergne – selection; R. Strauss, An Alpine Symphony. Louise Alder soprano, London Philharmonic Orchestra. Edward Gardner conductor This was a very interesting programme, very well thought through – a contemporary Norwegian composer’s piece about the sounds of the forest, folk songs from the Auvergne, and Strauss’ AlpineContinue reading “R.Strauss: Gardner, LPO. RAH BBC Proms 27/7/26”
Puccini, La Fanciulla del West, Opera Holland Park, 10/6/26
Martin Lloyd-Evans, Director; Matthew Kofi Waldren, Conductor; Anna Reid, Designer; Jamie Platt, Lighting Designer. Amanda Echalaz, Minnie; Robert Hayward, Jack Rance; Josè de Eça, Dick; Zwakele Tshabalala, Nick; Alaric Green, Ashby; Aidan Edwards; Sonora; Jamie Formoy, Trin This is a work which has always been a favourite of mine but which I have only seenContinue reading “Puccini, La Fanciulla del West, Opera Holland Park, 10/6/26”
Mahler, Halle, Wong: Bridgewater Hall, 28/5/26
Mahler, 6th Symphony, Kahchun Wong conductor, Halle Orchestra I have been to many fine performances of this work over the years – conducted by Rattle, Haitink, Chailly, Bychkov, Boulez and others, the most recent Rattle and the BRSO at the Proms in September 2024, and I grew up with the Bernstein/NYPO CBS recording. I alwaysContinue reading “Mahler, Halle, Wong: Bridgewater Hall, 28/5/26”
Wagner, Götterdämmerung extracts; LSO, Barbican, 24/5/26
Wagner Siegfried Idyll; Wagner Excerpts from Götterdämmerung. London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle conductor. Anja Kampe Brünnhilde. Elizabeth DeShong Waltraute This concert was organised in probably the best way to arrange these ‘bleeding chunks’. Dawn and Siegfried’s Rhine Jourmey, plus Waltraute’s narration in the first half; Sigfried’s Idyll, leading to the Funeral March and theContinue reading “Wagner, Götterdämmerung extracts; LSO, Barbican, 24/5/26”
John's musical journey 