Tag Archives: Simon Rattle

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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Rattle returns to Munich via a fairy garden

Simon Rattle/ Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Philharmonie im Gasteig, 20th July 2020 Simon Rattle’s passport has seen more action of late than my Oyster Card! Since his last encounter with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in June (played to an empty … 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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Exuberant playing as the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Beethoven cycle begins

Beethoven: Berliner Philharmoniker/Rattle **** Philharmonie, Berlin, 3rd October 2015 After the slow, mysterious B flat minor introduction to Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony, as if running fingers along castle walls in darkness to grope your way, the moment the Berliner Philharmoniker hit … Continue reading

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Powerhouse Sibelius launches Berlin residency

Sibelius: Simon Rattle/ Berlin Philharmonic **** Of all the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Jean Sibelius in 2015, the Berlin Philharmonic’s Barbican residency must rank pretty high, with all seven symphonies in three concerts on successive days. What … Continue reading

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