Classical Reviews

Kaufmann, Mattila, LSO, Pappano, Barbican

Peter Quantrill Thursday, 09 February 2017

Jonas Kaufmann’s legion of admirers could rest content. A well-received Lieder evening last week demonstrated that the world’s hottest tenor property had returned, both to London for a three-concert residency at the Barbican, and indeed to singing after burst blood vessels had forced several months of rest and cancelled concerts.

Grosvenor, BBCPO, Gernon, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

Robert Beale Tuesday, 07 February 2017

Two young guys called Ben graced the BBC Philharmonic platform at the Bridgewater Hall – looking almost like Ant and Dec if you let your imagination wander. Ben Gernon, 27, had just been announced as the orchestra’s new Principal Guest Conductor (while predecessor John Storgårds now rejoices in the title of Chief Guest Conductor … it almost seems a bout of alternative facts is coming on), and this was his Bridgewater Hall début.

theartsdesk in Rome: Bartoli and Pappano on home turf

Peter Quantrill Monday, 06 February 2017

Wherever you are in the world, opportunities to see Cecilia Bartoli perform are hard to come by. A one-off chance to see her sing Mozart in Rome was not to be missed. This was a rare homecoming for Bartoli. Born in Rome, she studied at the city’s Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia where many members of the orchestra teach.

Widmann, BBCSO, Oramo, Barbican

Gavin Dixon Saturday, 04 February 2017

The BBC Symphony Orchestra has continued its long-standing support of British contemporary music with this première of a new commission, Michael Zev Gordon’s Violin Concerto for violinist...

Mitsuko Uchida, Royal Festival Hall

Gavin Dixon Wednesday, 01 February 2017

Mitsuko Uchida specialises in elegant, if uncontroversial, interpretations of core Austro-German repertoire, yet she’s never predictable, and every performance is full of unexpected insights and welcome surprises.

Comment

Argerich, St Petersburg PO, Temirkanov, RFH

Gavin Dixon Tuesday, 31 January 2017

Yuri Temirkanov chose a shamelessly populist programme for the London leg of the St Petersburg Philharmonic tour. But Khachaturian, Prokofiev and Shostakovich are core repertoire for this orchestra, and ideal for showing off its many strengths.

Gauvin, Le Concert de la Loge, Chauvin, Wigmore Hall

alexandra Coghlan Monday, 30 January 2017

Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin has one of the most beautiful voices in the business – a glinting crystal blade sheathed in velvet. She wields it with skill, darting swiftly with coloratura one minute, before stabbing deep with emotion the next. In Handel she’s peerless, and this was an exhibition round of a programme, designed to show both singer and composer at their best.

Elisabeth Leonskaja, Wigmore Hall

David Nice Friday, 27 January 2017

Restlessness in a good sense was the keynote of Elisabeth Leonskaja's latest revelatory recital. At 71, the Russian pianist, now an Austrian citizen, has all the supreme mastery it takes to make the volatility work: perfect weight and balance, miraculous rhythmic articulation, the right sense of space and freedom, and the ability to see where a line or a movement is going.

Comment

Van Keulen, LPO, Jurowski, Royal Festival Hall

David Nice Thursday, 26 January 2017

Readers might be wondering how often the spectre of Trump is destined to loom in reviews.

Aimard, Stefanovich, St John's Smith Square

Gavin Dixon Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Visions de l’Amen was a shoo-in for Belief and Beyond Belief, the year-long festival of art inspired by religious faith. The festival’s goals seem dangerously nebulous – almost anything could fit its remit – but it is hard to imagine a work that better encapsulates "The Search for the Meaning of Life" than Messiaen’s transcendental masterpiece.