Classical Reviews

Smith, Wyn-Rogers, Philharmonia, Pons, RFH

Gavin Dixon Monday, 17 October 2016

The Philharmonia’s Sunday concert wasn’t quite the event they’d planned. Christoph von Dohnányi scored a hit last season with Schubert's Ninth Symphony, so his reading of the Eighth seemed an ideal way to begin. But Dohnányi withdrew early on, leaving the work in the less inspiring hands of Josep Pons.

Classical CDs Weekly: Batzner, Floyd, Mahler

graham Rickson Saturday, 15 October 2016

Jay C. Batzner: as if to each other… R. Andrew Lee (piano) (Irritable Hedgehog)

Icebreaker and BJ Cole, Milton Court

Helen Wallace Thursday, 13 October 2016

Call it re-analogification, de-digitisation or perhaps just plain reverse-engineering, Icebreaker’s set at Milton Court was all about reclaiming the electronic for hoary-handed instrumentalists. Their skills are well-honed: from Anna Meredith to Steve Martland to Kraftwerk, with an inspired side-order of Scott Walker, they conjured propulsive rhythmic lines and saturated layers of harmony from inauspicious sources – pan-pipes, soprano sax, a single cello, bass drum.

Hunt, London Firebird Orchestra, Bloxham, St Paul's Covent Garden

David Nice Wednesday, 12 October 2016

It's harder for young professional musicians to be judged in standard repertoire – the very greatest music, in short – than to make their mark tackling the unknown in a wacky venue. High levels of energy and technical skill married to interpretations with something to say are what it takes, and what we got from the London Firebird Orchestra last night.

Krylov, LPO, Søndergård, RFH

Peter Quantrill Monday, 10 October 2016

With a trio of easy-on-the-ear 20^th-century works, Thomas Søndergård marked his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. A pleasingly full crowd took the opportunity to hear the work of a conductor rarely glimpsed in these parts outside the BBC Proms. His appearances there in charge of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales have given the impression of a contented, highly competent musician, at ease both with the players before him and the scores on the music stand.

Trevigne, CBSO, Chauhan, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Richard Bratby Saturday, 08 October 2016

Bruckner’s Third Symphony doesn’t so much begin as become audible. A steady heartbeat in the bass, oscillating violas lit from within by clarinets, and in the middle, slowly pulling clear of the texture, the proud, sombre trumpet motif to which Wagner himself agreed to attach his name.

Classical CDs Weekly: Brahms, Steve Reich, Aleksandra Vrebalov

graham Rickson Saturday, 08 October 2016

Brahms: Double Concerto, Piano Trio No. 1 (1854 version) Joshua Bell (violin and director), Steven Isserlis (cello), Jeremy Denk (piano), Academy of St Martin in the Fields (Sony)

Mozart's Last Symphonies, SCO, Ticciati, Usher Hall, Edinburgh

David Nice Friday, 07 October 2016

His transformational Brahms series with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra may have been truncated by slipped disc troubles - he was much missed at Glyndebourne too - but Robin Ticciati is back with renewed energy and purpose. To judge from the brilliant but focused party they seemed to be having with Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony last night, the players are as overjoyed as he is.

Comment

Isserlis, Mustonen, Wigmore Hall

David Nice Wednesday, 05 October 2016

For a BBC Radio 3 lunchtime's hour of music, cellist Steven Isserlis's latest collaboration with that most individual of pianists Olli Mustonen went astonishingly deep.