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”
Tag Archives: orchestra
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”
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”
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”
R. Strauss, An Alpine Symphony. Halle / Elder – Bridgewater Hall, 10/5/25
Halle Orchestra, Sir Mark Elder conductor. Huw Watkins, Concerto for Orchestra (world premiere); R. Strauss An Alpine Symphony This was Mark Elder’s one concert with the Halle in this, the first year after he retired from being music director. It was billed as a big deal on Halle’s Facebook page – it also had aContinue reading “R. Strauss, An Alpine Symphony. Halle / Elder – Bridgewater Hall, 10/5/25”
Shostakovich: Symphony no 7 “Leningrad”: RPO, Petrenko. RFH 27/4/25
Sibelius Finlandia; Weill Four Walt Whitman Songs; Shostakovich Symphony No.7, ‘Leningrad’ (with film). Vasily Petrenko Conductor. Roderick Williams Baritone; Kirill Serebrennikov Art Director; Ilya Shaglov Video Artist. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra I didn’t spot this concert as an upcoming event until a week before it happened. Vasily Petrenko is a conductor I always enjoy hearing but, somehow, I don’t always get newsContinue reading “Shostakovich: Symphony no 7 “Leningrad”: RPO, Petrenko. RFH 27/4/25”
Ades/Stravinsky, Halle Orchestra. Bridgewater Hall, 27/3/25
Thomas Adès conductor, Ann Dennis mezzo-soprano, Hallé Choir: Thomas Adès, Dawn: a chacony for orchestra at any distance; Thomas Adès, America: A Prophecy UK premiere; Saariaho, Oltra Mar; Stravinsky The Rite of Spring This was a fascinating concert, with a near sell-out audience, an Adès piece new to me (and indeed part of it newContinue reading “Ades/Stravinsky, Halle Orchestra. Bridgewater Hall, 27/3/25”
Tippett, Beethoven: Pappano, LSO. Barbican 23/3/25
Tippett A Child of Our Time; Beethoven Symphony No 9, Choral. London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Antonio Pappano conductor; Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha soprano; J’Nai Bridges mezzo-soprano; Sean Pannikar tenor, Soloman Howard, bass With the Barbican Hall completely sold out. this was an extremely generous programme, in terms of content and the demands on soloists, choir andContinue reading “Tippett, Beethoven: Pappano, LSO. Barbican 23/3/25”
John's musical journey 