We interview...
Rolling his sleeves up: Ed Gardner in Bergen
As commutes go, London to Bergen has its attractions. Nearly a year into the post of chief conductor at the Bergen Philharmonic, Ed Gardner has a bounce in his step and exudes genuine enthusiasm for the job.
We interview...
Forging a Ring and new audiences in Hong Kong
Raff Wilson, Director of Artistic Planning of the Hong Kong Philharmonic offers valuable insights into his planning process ahead of the orchestra’s 2016-17 season.
Dance focus...
In the studio with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Belgian choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa is in New York. Ahead of the première of her new work for the New York City Ballet, Bachtrack visits her in the studio during rehearsals.
Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín
Music-making in the concentration camp at Theresienstadt/Terezín continues to fascinate, baffle and inspire us.
Latest reviewsSee more...
Making hay while the sun shines
With little fanfare, other than a cockerel crowing from the pit, the Royal Ballet crept to life for its new season. For a couple of hours, all was right with the world.
“Intimate Beethoven” from the ACO
Impressive rapport among members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Mozart and Beethoven.
Gergiev and the Mariinsky explore Prokofiev
Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra gave a searching examination of Prokofiev's first three symphonies and the Violin Concerto no. 1, each half showing us the contrast between light and shade, airiness and density.
Salonen explores Stravinsky inspired by Greek myth
As Esa-Pekka Salonen resumes his Stravinsky series, he turns his attention to three underperformed works based on key figures of Greek mythology: Orpheus, Apollo and Persephone.
The skull beneath the skin
The London Symphony Orchestra under their Principal Guest Conductor Daniel Harding perform Mahler's Fourth and a world première as well as accompanying Nikolaj Znaider in Sibelius' Violin Concerto.
Hellfire and damnation in Verdi's Requiem, London
Gianandrea Noseda leads a fiery account of Verdi's “opera in ecclesiastical garb” to open the LSO's new season.
CONDUCTOR INTERVIEWS
Uniting through music: Q&A with Marin Alsop
Period instruments, Rusty Musicians and inspiring a new generation of female conductors: just a few topics touched upon in our interview.
Sincerity itself: Semyon Bychkov on Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky has a special place in the heart of Russians. Semyon Bychkov caught the bug at an early age. In an interview, he reflects on what Tchaikovsky means to him, and the man behind the notes.
Valery Gergiev: “I'm a relatively busy man”
Ahead of his appearance with the Munich Philharmonic at this year’s Prom 4, Valery Gergiev gave Bachtrack a wide-ranging interview, discussing the Mariinsky, Russian music, education and much more.
A Peruvian in Oslo: Miguel Harth-Bedoya
Norwegian Radio Orchestra Chief Conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya talks to us about Brahms, Schumann, touring and playing Latin American music in Norway (and Grieg, of course).
Postcard from Zagreb
Postcard from Zagreb
Zagreb is a gem of a city and feels in many ways like a mini-Vienna. Read Jonathan Sutherland's guide to what to do and see.
Pick of the bunch...
September Hot List: for members
Welcome to the September Hot List, where our editor highlights some of the tastiest events near you this month.
Make Bachtrack your guide to the best classical music concerts, opera and dance performances worldwide. You can search for your favourite composer or performer or read some of the 200 reviews we publish each month across the world.
We preview...
Taking a creative lead in Dutch National’s new season
Last season was a great one for Dutch National Opera, which celebrated its 50th season with a string of accolades. How to build on success?
We preview...
Baroque winter sunshine in Malta
With your choice of instrumental, ensemble, choral and operatic concerts, Valletta in January is the perfect place to hear great music in lovely surroundings and beat the winter blues.
We interview...
Preparing for the Proms: Alisa Kolosova
Russian mezzo-soprano Alisa Kolosova makes her BBC Proms debut next Friday… and Proms debuts don’t come much bigger than Verdi’s Requiem. We caught up with here ahead of the big day.
RECOMMENDED CONCERTS
LondonRosenblatt Recital: Alek Shrader
Bell, Thomson, Nicolai, Mozart, Handel, Barber, Foster, Rossini
Alek Shrader; Roger Vignoles
PragueOpening Concert of 121st season
Tchaikovsky, Mahler
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra; Jiří Bělohlávek; Joshua Bell; Bernarda Fink; Pavel Černoch
ParisRavel, Dean, Stravinsky
Ravel, Dean, Stravinsky
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France; Mikko Franck; Håkan Hardenberger
ViennaElijah
Mendelssohn: Elijah, Op.70
Matthew Halls; Marlis Petersen; Christianne Stotijn; Michael Schade; Florian Boesch
RECOMMENDED OPERA/DANCE
DijonL'Orfeo
Monteverdi: L'Orfeo (Orpheus), SV318
Étienne Meyer; Yves Lenoir; Opéra de Dijon; Céline Perrigon; Marie La Rocca; Marine Chagnon; Emmanuelle de Negri
MunichDie Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Kirill Petrenko; David Bösch; Bavarian State Opera; Patrick Bannwart; Meentje Nielsen; Wolfgang Koch; Georg Zeppenfeld
ToulouseBéatrice et BénédictNew production
Berlioz: Béatrice et Bénédict
Tito Ceccherini; Richard Brunel; Théâtre du Capitole; Anouk Dell'Aiera; Claire Risterucci; Julie Boulianne; Lauren Snouffer
LeedsIl tabarro & Suor Angelica
Puccini
Jac van Steen; David Pountney; Opera North; Anthony Kraus; Johan Engels; Tom Pye; Ivan Inverardi
BerlinEine Frau, die weiss, was sie will (A woman who knows what she wants)
Straus: Eine Frau, die weiss, was sie will (A woman who knows what she wants)
Adam Benzwi; Barrie Kosky; Komische Oper Berlin; Katrin Kath; Pavel B. Jiracek; Dagmar Manzel; Max Hopp
POSTCARDS FROM ABROAD
Postcard from New York City
New York City is so packed with delectable curiosities that its inhabitants are prone to cases of FOMO (fear of missing out). Reviewer Rebecca Lentjes is an insider. Read her tips and squeeze the most out of your visit.
Postcard from Berlin
From pearly music venues to countless architectural gems, vibrant Berlin is anything but staunchly Teutonic. Here's Clara Colotti's run-down.
Postcard from Vienna
Are you visiting the land of waltzes and Glühwein? Unwind to reviewer Chanda VanderHart's cultural picks.
Photo gallery: Utrecht
From strange musical instruments to sweet shops to churches and canals, here are some varied views of Utrecht.
Postcard from Leeds
Leeds is a cultural powerhouse of The North. Here are Richard Wilcocks' tips for pubs, architecture and a rich musical heritage.
RECENT ARTICLES AND PREVIEWS
We preview...
Preview: Janáček Brno Festival and season
The festival presents Janáček's opera and other works in the context of others; if you can't catch it, there's plenty more in the Janáček Opera NTB's regular season.
We preview...
Opera North: Drama and fairytale
A set of three dramatic operas is followed in 2017 by three new productions of fairytale operas, including a rare chance to hear Rimsky-Korsakov's The Snow Maiden.
We preview...
Love triangles and secret grottos
Munich is one of the top European destinations for opera tourists. It’s not difficult to see why. The Staatsoper's season is built around six new opera productions at the Nationaltheater, ranging from Rossini to Schreker.
We preview...
A human voice: the Cello Unwrapped
The warmth and human-like quality to the cello’s timbre features strongly as King’s Place turns the spotlight on this most soulful of instruments.
Festival review...
Attentive listening at altitude
I’ve just spent three days at the Verbier Festival, immersing in chamber music performances at various mountainside locations 1500metres above sea level. I don’t listen to anywhere near as much chamber music in London when I’m home. I’m never in the right headspace.
We preview...
Ice and magma: Nordic focus for Tortelier
A focus on Nordic composers, including Anna Thorvaldsdottir, marks Yan Pascal Tortelier’s first season at the helm in Iceland.
We interview...
Mozart's Idomeneo: a step of evolution in Göteborg
Idomeneo is still something of a 'Cinderella' among Mozart's operas, yet Graham Vick is about to direct it for the third time. What draws him back to it?
We preview...
Opéra de Dijon's new season
The Opéra de Dijon's 2016/7 season has an opera programme that strays further from the beaten track than ever, with a couple of notable dance performances and an American flavour infusing the extensive concert programme.
We visit Tokyo...
Art and classical music in Tokyo
Tokyo's array of culture is so extensive and diverse that it can bewilder a first time visitor. Here's our guide to how to start enjoying one of the world's great artistic cities.
We visit Riga...
Riga for classical music and opera lovers
Coming from London, Paris or New York, you’re quite likely to start with the expectation that Riga will feel like a small city: after all, it’s of similar population to Sheffield or Detroit.
Chailly and the Berliner Philharmoniker: the critics’ choice
Which are the greatest orchestras and conductors according to the professional critics? Bachtrack's poll reveals the top ten!
Bachtrack announces Classical Music Statistics for 2015: The busiest conductors and orchestras, the most performed works, the most played living composers, most performed operas and ballet. Whatever you're looking for, check the Bachtrack statistics first HERE.
