Tag Archives: London Symphony Chorus

Top ten Beethoven releases of 2020

After a February symphony cycle at the Barbican, most of my Beethoven this year – understandably – has been either streamed or on disc, so I thought I’d mark the great man’s 250th with a round-up of my favourite recordings … Continue reading

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Pappano and the LSO bring the Italians out of the opera pit

Pappano/ London Symphony Orchestra Barbican, 3rd March 2019 Verdi, Puccini and Ponchielli don’t exactly get out of the pit much, Italian composers famed almost exclusively for their operatic output. Sir Antonio Pappano doesn’t get out of the pit much either, … Continue reading

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Rattle leads the LSO on a thrilling ride into the abyss

Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust **** Barbican Hall, 19th September 2017 “Diff! Diff! Belzébuth, Belphégor, Astaroth, Méphisto!” Once the hissing demons had greeted Méphistophélès, Faust’s soul successfully delivered after their Ride into the Abyss, calm was restored to the Barbican … Continue reading

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Mediterranean heat: a scorching Daphnis et Chloé from Altinoglu and the LSO

Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Ravel: LSO/Altinoglu **** Barbican Hall, 23rd March 2017 It’s over twenty years since I last saw Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé danced by the Royal Ballet, yet every step of Sir Frederick Ashton’s choreography is imprinted on my memory: Stuart … Continue reading

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Hellfire and damnation as Noseda and the LSO blaze through Verdi’s Requiem

Verdi: Requiem **** LSO/Noseda, Barbican, 18th September 2016 Verdi’s Requiem brings with it a huge sense of occasion. Turned to at times of national tragedy, it communicates an emotional power where the words of politicians frequently fail. It is also … Continue reading

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