GRAMOPHONE Review: Mahler Symphony No. 7 – Minnesota Orchestra/Vänskä
I might have predicted that this of all the Mahler symphonies would chime with Osmo Vänskä’s very particularly gifts as a conductor. The brilliance and clarity of this performance (and recording – BIS technical prowess much in…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Mahler Das Lied von der Erde – Dame Sarah Connolly, Robert Dean Smith, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin/Jurowski
This is a performance of such distinction that regardless of one’s personal view of the piece – that is, exactly how objective or subjective you want or need your Mahler to be and whether you favour an…
GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – August 2020
It’s always interesting getting feedback on reviews published within these pages whether there is agreement or a difference of opinion – these things are so subjective. It’s been a while, though, since a review of mine prompted…
COMPARING NOTES: Kim Criswell in Conversation
Broadway and West End star Kim Criswell discusses golden age style, vocal health, starring in ‘Nine’, ‘Baby’ and ‘The Threepenny Opera’ on Broadway, ‘Cats’ in LA, ‘Carrie’ in London and her work with conductors John McGlinn and…
GRAMOPHONE COLLECTION: Bernstein’s Mass
It was back in 1989 during my one and only audience with Leonard Bernstein that I experienced what I believe would now be referred to as ‘a moment’. We were discussing ‘the song about the writing of…
GRAMOPHONE: Rags The Musical – Original London Cast Recording
I have always been unreasonably fond of Charles Strouse and Stephen Schwartz’ Rags and would have given my right arm to have seen the great Teresa Stratas as Rebecca at one of the handful of performances (it…
GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – August 2020
In June I reviewed – none too favourably – an account of Mahler’s tragic and prophetic Sixth Symphony from the Essen Philharmonic Orchestra under their General Music Director Tomáš Netopil which was the third recording in recent…
COMPARING NOTES: Julian Ovenden in Conversation
Actor and singer Julian Ovenden chats to Edward Seckerson about the postponed revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘South Pacific’ in Chichester, performing Sondheim in London and Paris, working for Harvey Weinstein on Scott Frankel and Michael Korie’s…
COMPARING NOTES: Dame Sarah Connolly in Conversation
Distinguished mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly discusses her new recording of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde conducted by Vladimir Jurowski, singing Handel at Glyndebourne and ENO, Fricka in Wagner’s Ring Cycle, admired directors and dream roles with…
GRAMOPHONE: Shostakovich Violin Concertos – State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia ‘Evgeny Svetlanov’/Jurowski
If there’s one factor above all that sets these performances apart it’s the osmosis between soloist and conductor. There’s a musical and intellectual friction going on here and it has to do with the balance between head…
