Author Archives: Mark Pullinger

Vienna’s Musikverein reawakens to a defiant Beethoven Fifth

Daniel Barenboim/ Vienna Philharmonic Großer Saal, Musikverein, Vienna, 5th June 2020 Musical life is slowly returning to Europe, emerging from its enforced hibernation like a slightly nervous bear stretching a speculative paw out into the world. Concerts performed to empty … Continue reading

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Glimmers of light: Stephen Hough brings Wigmore Hall back to life

Stephen Hough Wigmore Hall, 1st June 2020 It would usually be every performer’s nightmare, walking onto the stage and peering out into the audience… to see every single seat unoccupied. Yet when Stephen Hough strode out onto Wigmore’s Hall’s hallowed … Continue reading

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Grieg’s Piano Concerto from Bergen… and Reykjavík!

Ólafsson, Gardner/ Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra Grieghallen, Bergen & Harpa, Reykjavík, 24th May 2020 With lots of online attention focused on Glyndebourne’s “Open House” screening of its 2012 Figaro yesterday evening, this live concert slipped in under the wire, almost unnoticed. … Continue reading

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Mushroom Quiche

It’s not all sweet baking here! (Well, not quite…) Missing my favourite mushroom quiche from Sable d’Or whilst in lockdown exile from Crouch End, I decided to bake my own version. Instead of spinach, you could substitute some red onion, … Continue reading

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Rebel with a Rimsky cause: Dmitri Tcherniakov returns to the Bolshoi with Sadko

Rimsky-Korsakov: Sadko Bolshoi Opera, 11th May 2020 When it comes to ruffling feathers at the Bolshoi, Dmitri Tcherniakov has form. It was in 2006 that his radical approach to Eugene Onegin caused Galina Vishnevskaya to declare she would never set … Continue reading

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