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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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Rosie Middleton in Eight Songs for a Mad King © Kings Place | Viktor Erik Emanuel

London

Manchester Camerata presents mindfulness in turmoil at Kings Place

By Chris Garlick, 06 June 2026

All praise should be heaped on Rosie Middleton for her brave evocation and the vocal prowess of her performance in Peter Maxwell Davies’ Eight Songs for a Mad King.

****1

London

06 Jun 2026

Manchester Camerata presents mindfulness in turmoil at Kings Place

By Chris Garlick

Dancers Sari Mizoe and Willow Kerensa Fenner © Pete Woodhead

London

Unnatural Harmony: Requiem to a troubled genius at the Southbank’s Multitudes

By Chris Garlick, 29 April 2026

As part of the Southbank Centre's Multitudes festival, Unnatural Harmony: Sounds of Lee Alexander McQueen offers a multimedia tribute to the life and creative vision of the iconic British fashion designer.

****1

London

29 Apr 2026

Requiem to a troubled genius at the Southbank’s Multitudes

By Chris Garlick

The Manchester Collective and Sean Shibe © Pete Woodhead

London

Sad shanties from Manchester Collective and Sean Shibe

By Chris Garlick, 28 March 2026

The Manchester Collective are one of the most successful groups of musicians who aim to bridge the gap between musicians and their audiences.

****1

London

28 Mar 2026

Sad shanties from Manchester Collective and Sean Shibe

By Chris Garlick

London

Explosive performances from Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic

By Chris Garlick, 21 January 2026

Jurowski took a full-on approach in the first movement, grinding through the discords without shame and only pulling back in those rare moments in the score where everyone is catching their breath.

****1

London

21 Jan 2026

Explosive performances from Vladimir Jurowski and the LPO

By Chris Garlick

London

Rare Vaughan Williams from Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra

By Chris Garlick, 07 December 2025

Tchaikovsky and Vaughan Williams make rare bedfellows, but Pappano's grip on these disparate scores impresses, with the London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra on wondrous form.

****1

London

07 Dec 2025

Rare Vaughan Williams from Pappano and the LSO

By Chris Garlick

London

Sir Mark Elder and LPO plumb new depths in Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony

By Chris Garlick, 31 October 2025

Elder's reading of A Sea Symphony has the maturity and surefooted-ness of a conductor who has fully absorbed the work and long since recognised it as a masterpiece.

*****

London

31 Oct 2025

Elder and LPO plumb new depths in Vaughan Williams

By Chris Garlick

London

Artistic adventures with the Manchester Collective

By Chris Garlick, 26 September 2025

Present what could be considered challenging work unapologetically, the Manchester Collective makes friends on London's Southbank.

*****

London

26 Sep 2025

Artistic adventures with the Manchester Collective

By Chris Garlick

Vasily Petrenko conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra © BBC | Chris Christodoulou

London

Charisma and colour from Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic at the Proms

By Chris Garlick, 07 September 2025

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s BBC Proms matinee proves an ideal opportunity to demonstrate their strengths in a programme of Respighi, Milhaud and Vaughan Williams.

****1

London

07 Sep 2025

Charisma and colour from Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic

By Chris Garlick

Ryan Bancroft and Peter Moore © BBC | Chris Christodoulou

London

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

London

30 Aug 2025

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

By Chris Garlick

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.

*****

London

19 Aug 2025

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

By Chris Garlick

London

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.

****1

London

10 Aug 2025

Gardner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Proms

By Chris Garlick

Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO © BBC | Mark Allan

London

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.

****1

London

11 Apr 2025

Virtuosic Malcolm Arnold from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

London

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.

****1

London

06 Apr 2025

Absolute conviction: Alina Ibragimova and friends

By Chris Garlick

Santtu-Matias Rouvali © Philharmonia Orchestra | Marc Gascoigne

London

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

London

30 Mar 2025

French charm and passion from Rouvali and the Philharmonia

By Chris Garlick

Will Liverman and Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha with Sir Antonio Pappano and the LSO © LSO | Mark Allan

London

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.

*****

London

09 Feb 2025

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

By Chris Garlick

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.

*****

London

12 Jan 2025

Lucid and magical: Rattle and the LSO surpass themselves

By Chris Garlick

Yeol Eum Son and the BBC Symphony Orchestra © BBC | Mark Allan

London

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

London

06 Dec 2024

Flashy Prokofiev and Respighi from the BBCSO and Antonio Méndez

By Chris Garlick

Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO © © BBC | Sarah Louise Bennett (Dec 2023)

London

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.

****1

London

08 Nov 2024

Magical potency from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

Daniel Barenboim conducts the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra © Pete Woodhead

London

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.

*****

London

04 Nov 2024

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

By Chris Garlick

London

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.

****1

London

06 Oct 2024

Barnstorming performances from Inon Barnatan at Wigmore Hall

By Chris Garlick

Sakari Oramo conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra © BBC | Mark Allan

London

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.

****1

London

09 Aug 2024

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

By Chris Garlick

London

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.

*****

London

04 Aug 2024

Blazing performances of American classics from the Sinfonia of London

By Chris Garlick

Nicholas Collon and the BBC Philharmonic © BBC | Chris Christodoulou

London

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.

****1

London

30 Jul 2024

Clyne and Messiaen from Collon and the BBC Philharmonic

By Chris Garlick

London

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.

****1

London

18 Jul 2024

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

By Chris Garlick

London

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.

*****

London

10 Apr 2024

Effortless Tippett and Beethoven from Edward Gardner and the LPO

By Chris Garlick

Esther Yoo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra © BBC | Mark Allan

London

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.

****1

London

20 Mar 2024

Clemens Schuldt and the BBCSO pack a punch

By Chris Garlick

London

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.

****1

London

16 Feb 2024

Electrifying Prokofiev from Malofeev, Lintu and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

Johan Dalene and the BBC Symphony Orchestra © BBC | Sarah Louise Bennett

London

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.

****1

London

08 Dec 2023

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

By Chris Garlick

Kim Bernard and Gautier Capuçon © The Wigmore Hall Trust, 2023

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.

****1

London

27 Nov 2023

A true partnership of equals: Gautier Capuçon and Kim Bernard

By Chris Garlick

London

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.

*****

London

23 Nov 2023

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

By Chris Garlick

London

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

London

28 Oct 2023

Shostakovich in the raw from Canellakis and the LPO

By Chris Garlick

Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts the Philharmonia © Ikin Yum

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

London

24 Sep 2023

Ups and downs with Rouvali and the Philharmonia

By Chris Garlick

Jean-Yves Thibaudet © BBC | Chris Christodoulou

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.

****1

London

26 Aug 2023

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

By Chris Garlick

Klaus Mäkelä © BBC Proms | Chris Christodoulou

London

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.

****1

London

04 Aug 2023

Yuja Wang irresistible at the Proms with Mäkelä and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

London

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.

*****

London

11 Jul 2023

Avi Avital charms and disarms in Clyne and Bach

By Chris Garlick

Vasily Petrenko conducts the RPO © Andy Paradise

London

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

London

07 Jun 2023

Powerful Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich from Vasily Petrenko and the RPO

By Chris Garlick

Sir Andrew Davis conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra © BBC | Mark Allan

London

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.

*****

London

12 May 2023

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

By Chris Garlick

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

London

04 May 2023

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

By Chris Garlick

London

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.

****1

London

19 Apr 2023

Rarities brought back to life by Vladimir Jurowski and the LPO

By Chris Garlick

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.

*****

London

13 Apr 2023

All passions spent: Chamayou and the Belcea Quartet

By Chris Garlick

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

London

30 Mar 2023

Beauty and the beast: Beethoven and Prokofiev from the LSO

By Chris Garlick

Martyn Brabbins conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra © BBC | Mark Allan

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.

****1

London

17 Mar 2023

Beowulf and Job: dramatic storytelling from Brabbins and the BBCSO

By Chris Garlick

Mari Samuelsen and the BBC Concert Orchestra © BBC | Mark Allan

London

Mari Samuelsen radiant in Pärt and Vasks with the BBC Concert Orchestra

By Chris Garlick, 26 February 2023

The Norwegian violinist performs a trio of contemporary works in an evening that concludes with Einojuhani Rautavaara's Angel of Light.

****1

London

26 Feb 2023

Mari Samuelsen radiant in Pärt and Vasks with the BBC CO

By Chris Garlick

London

Light as a feather: Seong-Jin Cho wows a full house at the Barbican

By Chris Garlick, 13 February 2023

The Korean pianist gives his first solo recital at the Barbican, focussed around Handel, Brahms and variation form.

*****

London

13 Feb 2023

Light as a feather: Seong-Jin Cho wows a full house at the Barbican

By Chris Garlick

Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1952, photographed by Ursula Wood © Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust

The BBC Philharmonic plays Fourth Symphonies by the most important British symphonists, Vaughan Williams and Tippett, to make up a short, but intense programme.

****1

London

19 Jul 2022

Sir Andrew Davis celebrates a pair of British Fourths at the Proms

By Chris Garlick