GRAMOPHONE Review: Bernstein Symphony No. 2 The Age of Anxiety – Berlin Philharmonic/Zimerman Rattle
A few words of introduction from the man himself (Bernstein in conversation with Humphrey Burton) preface this performance of perhaps his finest concert work – and in case we were in any doubt of the inspiration behind…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Shostakovich Symphonies 4 & 11 – Boston Symphony Orchestra/Nelsons
This Nelsons cycle started with a bang – namely the most electrifying recording of the Tenth Symphony we’ve had in almost half a century. The excellence continues. In dramatic contrast to Mikhail Pletnev’s intriguing but decidedly odd…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Richard Rodney Bennett Orchestral Works Vol. 2 – BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/Wilson
Volume Two of John Wilson’s “celebration” (for that’s what this series surely is) of Richard Rodney Bennett’s manifold gifts as a composer – and once more the choices rejoice in his creative shape shifting. The accomplished jazzer…
GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – September 2018
Reflecting back over my years in journalism my thoughts turned recently to interviews (that key component of a journalist’s armoury) and the sheer volume of opportunities that had come my way over the years both in print…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Mahler Symphony No. 4 – Julia Kleitner, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Gatti
After his disappointingly urbane account of the Second Symphony “Resurrection” the twilit, child-like, world of the Fourth would, on paper, seem far better suited to the cultured Royal Concertgebouw sound as favoured and actively encouraged by Daniele…
GRAMOPHONE Review: A Certain Slant of Light – Lisa Delan, Marseille Philharmonic Orchestra/Foster
As this collection and its accompanying notes reminds us, the music came first and the poetry followed for Emily Dickinson. Like all respectable young American women of a certain social standing she studied piano and voice. And…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Elgar Symphony No. 2, Serenade For Strings – BBC Symphony Orchestra/Gardiner
The opening movement of Elgar’s Second Symphony has brought great diversity of approach over the decades. How to interpret that tempo marking “Allegro vivace e nobilmente”? Exuberance, pace, and nobility. Gardner steers the middle path between expansive…
GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – August 2018
They say we can’t get enough of our heroes – but I am seriously wondering if at this time next when someone mentions the name Leonard Bernstein my response might be: “Who?” I jest, of course. I…
GRAMOPHONE Feature: Bernstein The Composer
There wasn’t much that Leonard Bernstein didn’t try his hand at at least once – and wanting, needing, to experience it all applied as surely to the music he wrote as to the music he conducted. “Finding…
GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – July 2018
It’s fun trawling for online definitions of PERCUSSION. Most are light years behind the curve in evaluating or even just attempting to describe music’s at once most basic and highly sophisticated family of instruments. A phrase like…