Author Archives: Mark Pullinger

Västerås Sinfonietta unleashes nature and embraces joy at Kings Place

Crawford-Phillips/ Västerås Sinfonietta Kings Place, 19th February 2020 If laughter is the best medicine, then the power of music to uplift the spirits cannot be far behind, especially when the music-making is imbued with such unadulterated joy. I doubt I’ve … Continue reading

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Poetry and panache: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet excels in Ravel with the LPO

Krivine/ London Philharmonic Orchestra Royal Festival Hall, 14th February 2020 Jean-Efflam Bavouzet has been immersed in the music of Maurice Ravel this week, touring the Left Hand Concerto with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, criss-crossing the country and sharing solo duties … Continue reading

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Love, intrigue… and black paint-play: Luisa Miller at ENO

Verdi: Luisa Miller English National Opera, 12th February 2020 Luisa Miller hasn’t had much luck in London. Olivier Tambosi’s 2003 staging for The Royal Opera “vandalised Verdi” (The Observer), while Olivia Fuchs’ for Holland Park the following year was “badly … Continue reading

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Iceland Symphony demonstrates its mettle in UK debut tour

Tortelier/ Iceland Symphony Orchestra Cadogan Hall, 10th February 2020 It wasn’t just Storm Ciara that blew in from the west at the weekend. The Iceland Symphony Orchestra blasted in from Reykjavík to undertake its first UK tour, a welcome visitor … Continue reading

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Welsh National Opera tackles Les Vêpres siciliennes but the vocal fireworks fail to ignite

Verdi: Les Vêpres siciliennes  Welsh National Opera, Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 8th February 2020 “Enough work to kill a bull!” was Verdi’s complaint about the effort of writing for the Paris Opéra. Les Vêpres siciliennes was the composer’s first original work … Continue reading

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