Tag Archives: Mozart

Prom 53: Shostakovich’s Orango keeps the Red Flag flying over South Kensington

Bartók/Mozart/Shostakovich: Philharmonia/Salonen *** Royal Albert Hall, 24th August 2015 Fervent flag-waving is usually reserved for the Last Night of the Proms, so what was going on in this Philharmonia concert? The Arena was awash with a sea of red flags, … Continue reading

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McVicar’s stylish Entführung emerges as a strong moral tale at Glyndebourne

Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail **** Glyndebourne, 13th June 2015 “Too many notes, Herr Mozart,” was Emperor Joseph II’s response to the composer’s new Singspiel Die Entführung aus dem Serail. I feared “Too many words, Sir David,” would be my response … Continue reading

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Wedding chaos, deception and duplicity in Garsington’s Così fan tutte

Mozart: Così fan tutte **** Garsington Opera, 5th June 2015 Weddings bring out the cynic in me. They also bring out the cynic in Don Alfonso and it’s at a wedding breakfast that John Fulljames sets his production of Così fan tutte, … Continue reading

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“Sound and fury”: a terrific Manfred from Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia

Scriabin, Mozart, Tchaikovsky: Philharmonia/Ashkenazy **** Royal Festival Hall, 19th April 2015 Tchaikovsky’s Manfred is the black sheep of his symphonic canon. Many conductors refuse to include it in performed or recorded cycles. Based on Byron’s dramatic poem, it is a strange, … Continue reading

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No sweat for Brautigam: Mozart cycle of concertos for BIS continues

Mozart: Piano Concertos 15 & 16  Ronald Brautigam; Kölner Akademie/ Michael Alexander Willens The cover photo is an indication of how far Ronald Brautigam is through his cycle of Mozart piano concertos for BIS. The series “From Forest to Concert … Continue reading

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