Tag Archives: Chopin

Perceptions and perspectives: Alice Sara Ott’s Echoes of Life

Alice Sara Ott Queen Elizabeth Hall, 7th November 2021 The concept of the “album as playlist” has become increasingly popular with pianists. Víkingur Ólafsson’s DG disc juxtaposing music by Debussy and Rameau, for example, was an inspired way of highlighting … Continue reading

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Mercurial Martha: Argerich springs a surprise in recital with Renaud Capuçon in Hamburg

Martha Argerich, Renaud Capuçon Laeiszhalle Hamburg, 25th June 2020 This was 24-carat special. Since its long overdue (and grossly over-budget) debut in 2017, the shiny new Elbphilharmonie has dominated Hamburg’s musical life. However, the Laeiszhalle – over a century older … Continue reading

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Sylphs and tales from the harem: Kazakh State Ballet makes its UK debut

Scheherazade/ Chopiniana Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, Coliseum, 17th November 2019 Citing Attila the Hun with pride, Erlan Idrissov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UK, declared to the Coliseum audience that his country was launching a “cultural … Continue reading

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A Grand Master returns: Maurizio Pollini at the Royal Festival Hall

Maurizio Pollini Royal Festival Hall, 12th March 2019 Considering the 90th birthday celebrations in London this week for Bernard Haitink, Maurizio Pollini, at 77, is a mere stripling. Impeccable in white tie and tails, he still rushes onto the platform … Continue reading

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Surface clatter and turbulent storms in Nobuyuki Tsujii’s QEH recital

Nobuyuki Tsujii Queen Elizabeth Hall, 30th January 2019 The story of Nobuyuki Tsujii’s success is incredible. By the age of seven he was winning prizes in his native Japan. At ten, he made his concerto debut in Osaka. In his … Continue reading

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