GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – March 2021
A recent conversation with Vasily Petrenko once again brought home to me just how much at odds our impressions of Russian music can be when shared with those closer to its source. We were discussing his recent…
GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – February 2021
When it was first proposed that we might expand the Music Theatre content in Gramophone to include musicals and other less easily definable forms of music drama the question arose as to where they should be placed…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Sondheim – Anyone Can Whistle (Studio Cast Recording): Maria Friedman, Julia McKenzie, National Symphony Orchestra/Edwards
I smell a collector’s item. This cracking recording of Stephen’s Sondheim’s second Broadway show as composer/lyricist, Anyone Can Whistle – complete down to every last dance break and entrance and exit cues – was recorded at Abbey…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Sleeping Beauty – A Dramatic Symphony: Baltic Sea Philharmonic Orchestra/Järvi
Sleeping Beauty – A Dramatic Symphony? Alarm bells start to ring. One of the greatest classical ballets in the repertoire – some might say the greatest – surely needs no reinvention. And however well you think you…
GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – January 2021
During the best part of the last year we’ve come to appreciate, indeed rely upon, the technology, endeavour, and resource that has kept the music coming through lockdown after lockdown and seen a comparatively new phrase become…
GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – December 2020
Like many I was thoroughly absorbed by John Bridcut’s touching film about Bernard Haitink – The Enigmatic Maestro. Not entirely sure about the title because what you see is surely what you get with Haitink: a decent,…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Britten Sinfonia da Requiem – City of Birmingham Symphony/Gražinytė-Tyla Orchestra
Capitalising on Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and the CBSO’s ‘Record of the Year’ triumph at this year’s Gramophone Awards this purely digital release – a growing trend – gives notice of a two-CD release (scheduled for March next year)…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Shostakovich Symphony No. 11 ‘The Year 1905’ – London Philharmonic Orchestra/Jurowski
Hard on the heels of the thrilling John Storgards/ BBC Philharmonic account on Chandos comes another performance I was lucky enough to experience live in December of last year. And a marked distinction in approach is immediately…
COMPARING NOTES: Vasily Petrenko in conversation
Vasily Petrenko, celebrated Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic (between 2013-2020), the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Music Director Designate of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra discusses his new recording of Prokofiev and Myaskovsky with his Norwegian orchestra, his…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Tchaikovsky Swan Lake excs – Philharmonia Orchestra/Rouvall
Like Oliver Twist I’m left wanting more. Clearly this Suite from Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece was part of a larger concert programme serving its purpose well in the wider context – and maybe, just maybe, it was just too…
