Find articles | Chris Garlick

Chris Garlick

Chris Garlick is the co-founder of Signal Gallery in Hoxton. His first degree was in music, training as a classical composer. Chris has written about art frequently in Art of England magazine, Artist and Illustrator for online blogs.

Author:Chris Garlick

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Folksong and fantasy with the LSO and Ryan Bancroft at the BBC Proms

By Chris Garlick, 30 August 2025

Ryan Bancroft’s LSO programme, inherited from Simon Rattle, mixes attractive English folksong-inspired pieces with more challenging, late 20th-century works.

****1

Folksong and fantasy with the LSO and Ryan Bancroft at the BBC Proms

By Chris Garlick

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London

Pappano and the LSO on fire in Strauss and Puccini at the BBC Proms

By Chris Garlick, 19 August 2025

This Strauss-Puccini Prom concert paired the Symphonic Fantasy from Die Frau ohne Schatten and Puccini's one-act opera, Suor Angelica.

*****

Pappano and the LSO on fire in Strauss and Puccini at the BBC Proms

By Chris Garlick

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Watery masterpieces from Gardner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Proms

By Chris Garlick, 10 August 2025

The London Philharmonic and Edward Gardner steer us through four ocean-related pieces, by Sibelius, Tippett, Ravel and Debussy.

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Gardner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Proms

By Chris Garlick

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Virtuosic Malcolm Arnold from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick, 11 April 2025

Sakari Oramo continues to champion rare English repertoire, conducting Doreen Carwithen and Malcolm Arnold at the Barbican.

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Virtuosic Malcolm Arnold from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

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Absolute conviction: Alina Ibragimova and friends in Shostakovich and Messiaen

By Chris Garlick, 06 April 2025

Alina Ibragimova and friends join forces at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in two powerful chamber works composed at the height of the Second World War.

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Absolute conviction: Alina Ibragimova and friends

By Chris Garlick

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French charm and passion from Rouvali and the Philharmonia

By Chris Garlick, 30 March 2025

Franck's Symphony in D minor proves the highlight of a mixed Philharmonia matinee at the Southbank Centre.

***11

French charm and passion from Rouvali and the Philharmonia

By Chris Garlick

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The LSO and Pappano's Sea Symphony sweeps all before it

By Chris Garlick, 09 February 2025

Another British music extravaganza from Sir Antonio Pappano and LSO proves to be a hit for an enthusiastic full house at the Barbican.

*****

The LSO and Pappano's Sea Symphony sweeps all before it

By Chris Garlick

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London

Lucid and magical: Rattle and the LSO surpass themselves

By Chris Garlick, 12 January 2025

A deeply satisfying performance of Vaughan Williams' Fifth Symphony crowns an excellent evening of English repertoire at the Barbican.

*****

Lucid and magical: Rattle and the LSO surpass themselves

By Chris Garlick

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Flashy Prokofiev and Respighi from the BBCSO and Antonio Méndez

By Chris Garlick, 06 December 2024

Stepping in for an indisposed Jonathon Heyward, Antonio Méndez conducts the BBCSO at their most colourful and joyously virtuosic.

****1

Flashy Prokofiev and Respighi from the BBCSO and Antonio Méndez

By Chris Garlick

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Magical potency from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO in late Romantic music

By Chris Garlick, 08 November 2024

Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO are in their element in rich repertoire including Szymanowski, Pejačević, Wagner and Strauss.

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Magical potency from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

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Joy and hope from the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and Daniel Barenboim

By Chris Garlick, 04 November 2024

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra are on fire with the joy of music-making to the delight of a very sympathetic and enthusiastic audience at London's Southbank Centre.

*****

Joy and hope from Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

By Chris Garlick

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Barnstorming performances from Inon Barnatan at Wigmore Hall

By Chris Garlick, 06 October 2024

Inon Barnatan hits the ground running with Ravel in his recital, concluding with his own transcription of Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances.

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Barnstorming performances from Inon Barnatan at Wigmore Hall

By Chris Garlick

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Reaching the summit: Oramo scales the Alpine Symphony with the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick, 09 August 2024

The BBC Symphony Orchestra shines in Strauss, in particular the characterful woodwind solos and the fulsomely resplendent brass.

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Reaching the summit: Oramo scales the Alpine Symphony with the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

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Blazing performances of American classics from John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London

By Chris Garlick, 04 August 2024

Colourful Americana demonstrates the many strengths of the Sinfonia of London at the BBC Proms.

*****

Blazing performances of American classics from the Sinfonia of London

By Chris Garlick

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Clyne and Messiaen in an emotional onslaught from Collon and the BBC Philharmonic

By Chris Garlick, 30 July 2024

Steven Osborne was lucid and detailed in his interpretation, lighting the technical fireworks as appropriate and seductive in the long and languid sixth movement, Jardin du sommeil d’amour.

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Clyne and Messiaen from Collon and the BBC Philharmonic

By Chris Garlick

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Poetry in motion: Chopin courtesy of Jan Lisiecki at Wigmore Hall

By Chris Garlick, 18 July 2024

A very impressive outing for the young Canadian pianist, who brings some of the old school magic of an Arthur Rubinstein to his Chopin.

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Poetry in motion: Jan Lisiecki's Chopin at Wigmore Hall

By Chris Garlick

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Effortless Tippett and Beethoven from Edward Gardner and the LPO

By Chris Garlick, 10 April 2024

Seong-Jin Cho joins the London Philharmonic Orchestra for polished Beethoven before Edward Gardner continues his advocacy of Michael Tippett.

*****

Effortless Tippett and Beethoven from Edward Gardner and the LPO

By Chris Garlick

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Clemens Schuldt and the BBCSO pack a punch

By Chris Garlick, 20 March 2024

Esther Yoo gives the world premiere of the Violin Concerto composed for her by Raymond Yiu.

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Clemens Schuldt and the BBCSO pack a punch

By Chris Garlick

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Electrifying Prokofiev from Alexander Malofeev, Hannu Lintu and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick, 16 February 2024

Malofeev combines a caressing lyricism, never exaggerated, with glittering percussive accuracy in Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto.

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Electrifying Prokofiev from Malofeev, Lintu and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

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A breath of Scandinavian fresh air from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick, 08 December 2023

Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO were at the top of their game, bringing a bracing breath of Scandi fresh air and clear light, on a dark December eveneing.

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A breath of Scandinavian fresh air from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

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London

A true partnership of equals: Gautier Capuçon and Kim Bernard at Wigmore Hall

By Chris Garlick, 27 November 2023

French pianist Kim Bernard, the first laureate of the Fondation Gautier Capuçon, performs with the Foundation's founder at London's Wigmore Hall.

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A true partnership of equals: Gautier Capuçon and Kim Bernard

By Chris Garlick

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Raising the spirits: Isabelle Faust, Duncan Ward and the London Symphony Orchestra

By Chris Garlick, 23 November 2023

Duncan Ward leads a varied programme from Bartók and Janáček to Chausson, closing with a benchmark performance of La Mer.

*****

Raising the spirits: Isabelle Faust, Duncan Ward and the LSO

By Chris Garlick

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Shostakovich in the raw from Canellakis and the London Philharmonic Orchestra

By Chris Garlick, 28 October 2023

Early Beethoven doesn't convince, but Karina Canellakis’s rendering of Shostakovich 8 pulls no punches: raw, frightening, even chastening

***11

Shostakovich in the raw from Canellakis and the LPO

By Chris Garlick

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London

Ups and downs: Rouvali conducts the Philharmonia in Shostakovich and Sibelius

By Chris Garlick, 24 September 2023

Rouvali's Sibelius completely misses the mark, but his Shostakovich is thrilling and vibrant.

***11

Ups and downs with Rouvali and the Philharmonia

By Chris Garlick

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London

Stylish music-making from the Andris Nelsons, Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the Boston Symphony

By Chris Garlick, 26 August 2023

Stravinsky's Petrushka and Gershwin's Piano Concerto take centre-stage in the BSO's second Prom of the weekend at the start of their European tour.

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Stylish music-making from the Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony

By Chris Garlick

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Yuja Wang irresistible at the Proms with Mäkelä and the BBC Symphony Orchestra

By Chris Garlick, 04 August 2023

Wang's playing of Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is a highlight of Prom 27; Mäkelä misses the bull’s eye on Belshazzar's Feast.

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Yuja Wang irresistible at the Proms with Mäkelä and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

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Avi Avital charms and disarms in Clyne and Bach with the ASMF

By Chris Garlick, 11 July 2023

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields are back on their home turf for string orchestra works by Tippett and Walton.

*****

Avi Avital charms and disarms in Clyne and Bach

By Chris Garlick

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Powerful Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich from Vasily Petrenko and the RPO

By Chris Garlick, 07 June 2023

Nobuyuki Tsujii joins the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Tchaikovsky's ever-popular First Piano Concerto before Vasily Petrenko conducts a thrilling Shostakovich 8.

****1

Powerful Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich from Vasily Petrenko and the RPO

By Chris Garlick

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Tippett to die for from Sir Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony

By Chris Garlick, 12 May 2023

Outstanding performances of A Child of Our Time and the Concerto for Double String Orchestra at the Barbican.

*****

Tippett to die for from Sir Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony

By Chris Garlick

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London

Edge-of-your-seat Nielsen from Ryan Bancroft and the Philharmonia

By Chris Garlick, 04 May 2023

A first-rate performance of Carl Nielsen’s Fourth Symphony proves to be the musical highlight of this Philharmonia concert.

****1

Edge-of-your-seat Nielsen from Ryan Bancroft and the Philharmonia

By Chris Garlick

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Rarities brought back to life by Vladimir Jurowski and the LPO

By Chris Garlick, 19 April 2023

Conductor Emeritus Vladimir Jurowski returns to the London Philharmonic Orchestra, bringing with him some rare jewels such as Paul Hindemith's Violin Concerto.

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Rarities brought back to life by Vladimir Jurowski and the LPO

By Chris Garlick

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London

All passions spent: Bertrand Chamayou and the Belcea Quartet in Shostakovich and Franck

By Chris Garlick, 13 April 2023

Two larger than life piano quintets share star billing on an intense Wigmore Hall programme.

*****

All passions spent: Chamayou and the Belcea Quartet

By Chris Garlick

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London

Beauty and the beast: Beethoven and Prokofiev from the LSO, Batiashvili and Noseda

By Chris Garlick, 30 March 2023

The polar opposite combination of Beethoven's Violin Concerto and Prokofiev's Third Symphony may seem odd on paper, but makes for an inspiring and entertaining evening at the Barbican.

****1

Beauty and the beast: Beethoven and Prokofiev from the LSO

By Chris Garlick

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London

Beowulf and Job: dramatic storytelling from Brabbins and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick, 17 March 2023

Iain Bell's Beowulf is given its world premiere, with Charles Styles making an eleventh-hour jump-in, while a neglected Vaughan Williams masterpiece is given a superb reading by Martyn Brabbins.

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Beowulf and Job: dramatic storytelling from Brabbins and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

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London