Tag Archives: Daniel Barenboim

“Spirit of delight”: Staggering Elgar from Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin

Tchaikovsky/Elgar: Staatskapelle Berlin/Barenboim **** Royal Festival Hall, 21st April 2015 London has been fortunate to host two great Berlin orchestras exploring repertoire unfamiliar to them in recent months. In February, the Berliner Philharmoniker dipped its toes into icy Sibelian waters, … Continue reading

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On with the motley: Clowns, ruffs and a bullet with Ferrando’s name on it

Verdi: Il trovatore: DG*** BelAir*** To adopt sporting jargon, Il trovatore comes in for a ‘bit of stick’ in operatic circles. Its plot is frequently held up as an example of how ridiculous opera plots can be and it has … Continue reading

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Turgid tempi hamper Barenboim’s Rheingold

Prom 14: Das Rheingold *** Staatskapelle Berlin, Barenboim, Royal Albert Hall, 22nd July 2013 ‘A sultry haze hangs in the air,’ remarks Donner towards the finale of Das Rheingold. He wasn’t wrong. In a Royal Albert Hall sweltering like Nibelheim’s furnaces, … Continue reading

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