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Mark Pullinger

Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Author:Mark Pullinger

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Ratmansky’s Callirhoe launches the Ferri era in Vienna in spectacular style

By Mark Pullinger, 22 October 2025

The first new production of Alessandra Ferri’s directorship of the Wiener Staatsballett sees the European premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s narrative ballet Of Love and Rage under its new title, Callirhoe.

*****

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Ratmansky’s spectacular Callirhoe launches the Ferri era in Vienna

By Mark Pullinger

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Steel and sparks: Stikhina, Tézier and Tetelman outstanding in Wallmann’s classic Vienna Tosca

By Mark Pullinger, 20 September 2025

It may be on its 663rd outing, but Margarethe Wallmann's Tosca is a classic for a reason, as proved in this outstanding performance at the Wiener Staatsoper.

*****

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Stikhina, Tézier and Tetelman outstanding in classic Vienna Tosca

By Mark Pullinger

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A thrusting Daphnis et Chloé brings the BBC Proms Ravel celebrations to a climax

By Mark Pullinger, 12 September 2025

John Wilson brings his Sinfonia of London to the BBC Proms to crown the Ravel 150 celebrations with a glowing performance of his hedonistic symphonie chorégraphique.

****1

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A thrusting Daphnis et Chloé at the BBC Proms

By Mark Pullinger

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Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Fiesta! Philippe Jordan’s Spanish postcard from the Festival Ravel

By Mark Pullinger, 04 September 2025

Born to a Basque mother just ten miles from the Spanish border, Ravel excelled at authentic Spanish flavours as heard in this splendid festival concert by the Orchestre National de France.

*****

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Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Fiesta! Philippe Jordan’s Spanish postcard from the Festival Ravel

By Mark Pullinger

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Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Tilting at windmills at the Festival Ravel

By Mark Pullinger, 03 September 2025

Don Quixote provides the inspiration for songs by Ravel and Ibert, the high point of a bitty programme in contrast to an early evening recital which followed the perfect trajectory.

***11

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Saint-Jean-de-Luz

At Festival Ravel: tilting at windmills

By Mark Pullinger

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Reflections on Maurice Ravel: a three-course piano feast in Ciboure

By Mark Pullinger, 02 September 2025

At the Festival Ravel, Bertrand Chamayou, Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Hyunji Kim perform all the solo piano works at the Église Saint-Vincent, a stone’s throw from the house where Ravel was born.

****1

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Reflections on Ravel: a three-course piano feast in Ciboure

By Mark Pullinger

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Rising stars: ten to watch in 2025–26

By Mark Pullinger, 02 September 2025

With so many talented young artists appearing in this season, editor Mark Pullinger selects ten we’re particularly excited to follow this year.

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Rising stars: ten to watch in 2025–26

By Mark Pullinger

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Grooving with The Dude: the Bolívars make Bernstein and Falla dance

By Mark Pullinger, 28 August 2025

Between gigs at Wembley as Coldplay’s support act, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra brings its distinctive brand of infectious music-making to the Southbank.

****1

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Grooving with The Dude: the Bolívars make Bernstein and Falla dance

By Mark Pullinger

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Immersed in Ravel: Seong-Jin Cho

By Mark Pullinger, 21 August 2025

The South Korean pianist talks about his love of Ravel, and performing with the Czech Philharmonic, in their season opener and Asian tour this autumn.

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Immersed in Ravel: Seong-Jin Cho

By Mark Pullinger

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Eugene Onegin on the road: Wild Arts plays Opera Holland Park

By Mark Pullinger, 14 August 2025

Tchaikovsky stipulated that a staging of Eugene Onegin need not be lavish but should be kept in period. He would have been satisfied with the results here.

***11

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Eugene Onegin on the road: Wild Arts plays Opera Holland Park

By Mark Pullinger

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Cool cat: Martin Fröst purrs at the BBC Proms

By Mark Pullinger, 31 July 2025

The Swedish clarinettist pays tribute to two jazz legends in Joshua Weilerstein's programme that includes Proms debutante, Elsa Barraine, and Rachmaninov.

****1

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Cool cat: Martin Fröst purrs at the BBC Proms

By Mark Pullinger

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All the world’s a jest: Falstaff returns to Glyndebourne

By Mark Pullinger, 23 July 2025

Richard Jones' 2009 production returns to Glyndebourne after a long absence, but the 1940s comedy scrubs up fresh.

***11

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All the world’s a jest: Falstaff returns to Glyndebourne

By Mark Pullinger

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To be or not to be: Hamlet returns to the Buxton International Festival

By Mark Pullinger, 16 July 2025

After 45 years, Ambroise Thomas' Hamlet returns to Buxton in a gripping, psychological staging by Jack Furness.

****1

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To be or not to be: Hamlet returns to the Buxton Festival

By Mark Pullinger

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Decadence and decay: Asmik Grigorian and Antonio Pappano lead a sensational Salome

By Mark Pullinger, 11 July 2025

Even locked behind a music stand, like a caged panther in a sleek black gown, Grigorian’s Salome bristles with dramatic energy in Barbican concert performance of Strauss’ “scherzo with a fatal conclusion”.

*****

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Decadence and decay: Asmik Grigorian leads a sensational Salome

By Mark Pullinger

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A riddle inside an enigma: Turandot at Savonlinna Opera Festival

By Mark Pullinger, 05 July 2025

Pet Halmen’s 2003 production of Puccini's unfinished final opera places asks more riddles than Turandot's quiz questions to her would-be suitors.

***11

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Turandot at Savonlinna Opera Festival: a riddle inside an enigma

By Mark Pullinger

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King of the Castle: Verdi’s Macbeth at the Savonlinna Opera Festival

By Mark Pullinger, 04 July 2025

Olavinlinna, also known as St Olaf's Castle, provides an atmospheric setting for Verdi's take on Shakespeare's “Scottish play”.

****1

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King of the Castle: Verdi’s Macbeth in Savonlinna

By Mark Pullinger

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Bachtrack top ten: Richard Strauss

By Mark Pullinger, 11 June 2025

From the early succès de scandale of Salome to a golden Indian summer, Richard Strauss’ long career spanned eight decades. Enjoy some highlights in our playlist.

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Bachtrack top ten: Richard Strauss

By Mark Pullinger

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Pountney’s vivid Simon Boccanegra finds a welcome new home at the Theatre in the Woods

By Mark Pullinger, 05 June 2025

Sir David Pountney's 1997 staging for Welsh National Opera is given a welcome new lease of life at Grange Park Opera, splendidly cast... with one major exception.

****1

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Pountney’s vivid Simon Boccanegra at Grange Park Opera

By Mark Pullinger

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An enigma? Dinis Sousa and the OAE present Elgar on period instruments

By Mark Pullinger, 04 June 2025

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Dinis Sousa bravely venture into Elgar at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, with mixed success.

***11

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Dinis Sousa and the OAE present Elgar on period instruments

By Mark Pullinger

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Hot ice: Natalia Osipova and Lukas B Brændsrød sizzle in Cranko’s Onegin

By Mark Pullinger, 03 June 2025

Natalia Osipova, a seasoned Tatiana, is joined by Lukas B Brændsrød, making his debut as Onegin in the summer return of John Cranko's take on Pushkin's classic verse novel.

*****

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Hot ice: Osipova and Brændsrød sizzle in Cranko’s Onegin

By Mark Pullinger

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Moreton-in-Marsh

At home with the Wagners: Avner Dorman’s Wahnfried receives its UK premiere

By Mark Pullinger, 27 May 2025

Longborough Festival Opera, built on Wagnerian foundations, stages the UK premiere of Avner Dorman’s ambitious cautionary tale about the Wagner clan and establishing the composer’s legacy.

***11

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Moreton-in-Marsh

Dorman’s Wahnfried receives its UK premiere at Longborough

By Mark Pullinger

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Questionable morels: Lady Macbeth in Leipzig

By Mark Pullinger, 25 May 2025

Two notable debuts dominate Oper Leipzig's notable Lady Macbeth revival: Kristine Opolais as Katerina and Andris Nelsons in the pit.

****1

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Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at Oper Leipzig

By Mark Pullinger

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Total Shostakovich masterminded by Andris Nelsons in Leipzig

By Mark Pullinger, 24 May 2025

The combined forces of the Gewandhaus and Boston Symphony unite under Andris Nelsons for a searing Leningrad Symphony, while the Quatuor Danel tackles the string quartets.

*****

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Total Shostakovich in Leipzig

By Mark Pullinger

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A Diaghilev celebration from BRB2

By Mark Pullinger, 06 May 2025

Carlos Acosta devises a programme of Ballets Russes highlights to celebrate Serge Diaghilev and to showcase the young dancers of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s junior company, BRB2.

****1

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A Diaghilev celebration from BRB2

By Mark Pullinger

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Comic opera minus the fizz: Telemann makes his Royal Opera debut

By Mark Pullinger, 02 May 2025

Pimpinone was conceived as a musical interlude – or intermezzo – between acts of Handel’s Tamerlano. Here, it marks the first time a Telemann opera has been staged at Covent Garden.

***11

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Comic opera minus the fizz: Telemann makes his Royal Opera debut

By Mark Pullinger

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Flight of Icarus: perception-altering Shostakovich from Serebrennikov and Petrenko

By Mark Pullinger, 27 April 2025

As part of the Southbank Centre's Multitudes festival, Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony is given a stunning visual direction by Kirill Serebrennikov to match the RPO's gripping playing.

*****

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Perception-altering Shostakovich from Serebrennikov and Petrenko

By Mark Pullinger

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Oh To Believe in Another World: Shostakovich and Stalin on film at the Multitudes festival

By Mark Pullinger, 24 April 2025

William Kentridge's film, a patchwork collage depicting Shostakovich's complicated relationship with Stalin, is played as film score to his Tenth Symphony at the Southbank's genre-crossing Multitudes festival.

***11

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Oh To Believe in Another World: Shostakovich and Stalin on film

By Mark Pullinger

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On top of the chamber music world: Wigmore Hall’s John Gilhooly

By Mark Pullinger, 23 April 2025

The London venue’s Artistic Director talks about Wigmore Hall’s 125th anniversary season, programming 600 concerts – and finding ways to pay for it all.

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On top of the chamber music world: John Gilhooly

By Mark Pullinger

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Percussive Prokofiev and titanic Shostakovich from Igor Levit and Lukas Sternath

By Mark Pullinger, 04 April 2025

Igor Levit champions his young mentee Lukas Sternath in a joint Wigmore Hall recital culminating in Shostakovich's own transcription of his Tenth Symphony.

****1

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Percussive Prokofiev and titanic Shostakovich from Levit and Sternath

By Mark Pullinger

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White hot intensity in Jurowski’s Lyatoshynsky with the LPO

By Mark Pullinger, 02 April 2025

The London Philharmonic welcomes back its Conductor Emeritus Vladimir Jurowski for a typically challenging programme of dark Russian and Ukrainian scores.

****1

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White hot intensity in Jurowski’s Lyatoshynsky

By Mark Pullinger

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Taking another fearless leap: Sonya Yoncheva

By Mark Pullinger, 21 March 2025

“I don't fear anything!” Sonya Yoncheva discusses her career, from leaping from the Castel Sant’Angelo as Tosca to preparing a new Iolanta in Vienna, and setting up her own production company.

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Taking another fearless leap: Sonya Yoncheva

By Mark Pullinger

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Dodging the executioner’s axe: Andrei Șerban’s Turandot returns to The Royal Opera

By Mark Pullinger, 19 March 2025

Andrei Șerban’s 1984 staging of Turandot may the oldest production left in The Royal Opera’s stable, but there's life in the old horse yet.

****1

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Dodging the executioner’s axe: Șerban’s Turandot returns

By Mark Pullinger

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Bachtrack top ten: Georges Bizet

By Mark Pullinger, 20 March 2025

If Georges Bizet had written only Carmen, he would still have earned his place in classical music’s Hall of Fame, yet there is much more to this composer who died tragically young.

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Bachtrack top ten: Georges Bizet

By Mark Pullinger

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Heavyweight Shostakovich from Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic

By Mark Pullinger, 07 March 2025

In the 50th anniversary year of Shostakovich's death, the Czech Philharmonic bring two of the composer's greatest works to the Barbican, the latest stop on their European tour.

****1

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Heavyweight Shostakovich from Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Phil

By Mark Pullinger

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Yasmine Naghdi’s Juliet pierces the heart as MacMillan’s masterpiece returns

By Mark Pullinger, 04 March 2025

“But, soft, what light through yonder window breaks?” Yasmine Naghdi reaches new interpretative depths in this revival of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s classic Romeo and Juliet.

****1

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Naghdi’s Juliet pierces the heart as MacMillan’s masterpiece returns

By Mark Pullinger

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High voltage Shostakovich 10 from Elim Chan and the BBCSO

By Mark Pullinger, 28 February 2025

In the 50th anniversary year of Shostakovich's death, you'll be hard pushed to hear a more thrilling rendition of the Tenth Symphony.

****1

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High voltage Shostakovich 10 from Elim Chan and the BBCSO

By Mark Pullinger

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Klaus Mäkelä and the Orchestre de Paris paint vivid pictures in the Musikverein

By Mark Pullinger, 23 February 2025

Maurice Ravel the orchestrator takes centre stage at the Musikverein in an evening of descriptive aural painting.

****1

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Klaus Mäkelä and the Orchestre de Paris paint vivid pictures in Vienna

By Mark Pullinger

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Riccardo Muti and the Vienna Phil: Dvořák glows in the golden Musikverein

By Mark Pullinger, 18 February 2025

Muti's Mozart with the Vienna Philharmonic is unfashionably well-upholstered, but their Dvořák New World Symphony is full of satisfying detail.

****1

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Muti and the Vienna Phil’s Dvořák glows in the golden Musikverein

By Mark Pullinger

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Argerich, Maisky and the elixir of youth

By Mark Pullinger, 06 February 2025

Martha Argerich and Mischa Maisky's duo recital at Wigmore Hall turns into a trio... and offers the London audience a rare opportunity to hear the Argentinian pianist play solo.

****1

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Argerich, Maisky and the elixir of youth

By Mark Pullinger

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Maria Seletskaja: swapping pointe shoes for a conductor’s baton

By Mark Pullinger, 05 February 2025

In one of the most incredible career journeys, Maria Seletskaja talks about her move from full time ballerina with Royal Ballet Flanders to becoming English National Ballet’s new Music Director.

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Maria Seletskaja: swapping pointe shoes for a baton

By Mark Pullinger

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Lise auf Naxos: Davidsen makes a triumphant return to Vienna’s Ariadne

By Mark Pullinger, 28 January 2025

Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen returns to Sven-Eric Bechtolf's lean but polished production with an outstanding cast, outstandingly conducted.

****1

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Lise auf Naxos: Davidsen makes a triumphant return to Ariadne

By Mark Pullinger

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New York penthouse decadence for a shattering new Salome in Geneva

By Mark Pullinger, 22 January 2025

The Grand Théâtre de Genève is certainly not risk-averse and Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó controversially translates the action to a penthouse bar in New York.

*****

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Penthouse decadence for a shattering new Salome in Geneva

By Mark Pullinger

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Grotesque and gripping: Opera Ballet Vlaanderen unveils a new Salome in Antwerp

By Mark Pullinger, 29 December 2024

Not a great day for the patriarchy: Ersan Mondtag's gripping new Salome emphasises grotesque caricatures and ends with a bloody, plot-twisting coup d’état.

****1

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Grotesque and gripping: Opera Ballet Vlaanderen unveils a new Salome

By Mark Pullinger

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Go West! Pappano and the LSO head towards the Cornish coast

By Mark Pullinger, 15 December 2024

From Stonehenge in Vaughan Williams’ Tess of the d’Urbervilles-inspired Ninth Symphony to Arnold Bax’s Tintagel, the LSO heads on a musical tour of western England.

*****

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Go West! Pappano and the LSO head towards the Cornish coast

By Mark Pullinger

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Paging Dr Freud! Iolanta and the Nutcracker at the Volksoper Wien

By Mark Pullinger, 05 December 2024

When is The Nutcracker not The Nutcracker? When's it's mashed together with Tchaikovsky's Iolanta to represent the blind princess’ inner world in a dark interpretation.

****1

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Paging Dr Freud! Iolanta and the Nutcracker at the Volksoper Wien

By Mark Pullinger

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Maria by Angelina: Pablo Larraín on directing his Callas biopic

By Mark Pullinger, 03 December 2024

Pablo Larraín talks about his new film Maria, starring Angelina Jolie, which charts the final days of iconic diva Maria Callas.

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Pablo Larraín on directing his Callas biopic

By Mark Pullinger

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The Royal Opera's “Taffia Tosca” burns with Welsh fire in excellent revival

By Mark Pullinger, 26 November 2024

Led by Bryn Terfel's Scarpia and Natalya Romaniw's Tosca – not forgetting Aled Hall's scene-stealing Spoletta – this revival of Jonathan Kent's 2006 staging is urgently paced.

****1

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“Taffia Tosca” burns with Welsh fire

By Mark Pullinger

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“Leb wohl”: Blomstedt conducts the Philharmonia in a mellow, glowing Mahler 9

By Mark Pullinger, 21 November 2024

Herbert Blomstedt returns to the Philharmonia for Mahler's great symphony of farewell.

*****

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“Leb wohl”: Blomstedt conducts a mellow, glowing Mahler 9

By Mark Pullinger

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Young Sicilian soprano grabs the limelight in an over-busy Don Pasquale in Bergamo

By Mark Pullinger, 17 November 2024

They came for Javier Camarena, but cheered Giulia Mazzola to the rafters of the Teatro Donizetti as the third production of this year's festival opens.

***11

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Young Sicilian soprano grabs the limelight in Bergamo Don Pasquale

By Mark Pullinger

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Cecilia Molinari impresses in a modern makeover for Donizetti’s Zoraida di Granata

By Mark Pullinger, 16 November 2024

Bruno Ravella's effective production was seen in Wexford in its original 1822 version, but Donizetti Opera opts for the composer's 1824 revision, throwing the spotlight onto Cecilia Molinari's excellent Abenamet.

***11

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A modern makeover for Donizetti’s Zoraida di Granata

By Mark Pullinger