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Robert Gainer

Robert Gainer

Robert Gainer has completed a BA in European Studies at the University of Warwick and an MSc in Criminology at the University of Leicester. He is currently completing further study in English and Cultural Studies, again at Warwick. He plays trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn and his musical background is in brass band and orchestra. In his spare time he enjoys writing fiction and poetry.

Author:Robert Gainer

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Joy triumphs as Kazuki Yamada enthuses Birmingham with Beethoven’s Ninth

By Robert Gainer, 19 September 2024

“Go big or go home!” A new season opens with the CBSO and Chorus giving an epic Beethoven Ninth at Birmingham's Symphony Hall.

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Joy triumphs as Yamada enthuses Birmingham with Beethoven

By Robert Gainer

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WNO’s abstract Magic Flute proves more contemporary than cohesive

By Robert Gainer, 03 May 2023

WNO delivers a well-performed production of Mozart’s Magic Flute with some fresh ideas, but other which dilute it.

***11

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WNO’s abstract Magic Flute proves more contemporary than cohesive

By Robert Gainer

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Leleux and the CBSO opt for safe and popular

By Robert Gainer, 13 April 2023

Behzod Abduraimov impresses in Rachmaninov's evergreen Second Piano Concerto.

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Leleux and the CBSO opt for safe and popular

By Robert Gainer

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Kazuki Yamada and the CBSO prove there is life to be found on other planets

By Robert Gainer, 01 February 2023

Kazuki Yamada returns to the CBSO with an ever-popular orchestral suite, an under-appreciated concerto, and a fabulous pianist in Alexandre Kantorow to play it.

*****

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Yamada and the CBSO prove there is life to be found on other planets

By Robert Gainer

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Gabriela Montero captivates Birmingham with her unique interpretation of Tchaikovsky

By Robert Gainer, 11 May 2022

With two very well-known pieces, could Gabriela Montero, Gražintyė-Tyla and the CBSO find ways of keeping them interesting? The answer was a resounding ‘Yes’.

*****

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Gabriela Montero captivates with her unique Tchaikovsky

By Robert Gainer

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Kazuki Yamada states his intentions with the CBSO and Mahler

By Robert Gainer, 19 January 2022

With the help of soprano Fatma Said and a compelling programme, the incoming City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra chief conductor made good on his promise and past performances.

*****

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Kazuki Yamada states his intentions with the CBSO and Mahler

By Robert Gainer

A White House Rigoletto with some impressive voices at Welsh National Opera

By Robert Gainer, 06 November 2019

Welsh National Opera brought a cast of strong voices to Birmingham for a production of Rigoletto intriguingly set in the White House of the 1960s.

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A White House Rigoletto with some impressive voices

By Robert Gainer

Buxton Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary with Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin

By Robert Gainer, 06 July 2019

Every July, Buxton’s charming opera house hosts an international festival of opera, literature and the arts. This year the festival opened with a strong familiar favourite, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.

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Buxton Festival celebrates 40th anniversary with Eugene Onegin

By Robert Gainer

Jennifer France and the CBSO faultless in New Year's Concert at Symphony Hall

By Robert Gainer, 06 January 2019

Following the recipe of the New Year Concert from Vienna, the CBSO demonstrated their ability, but not much originality in this predictable programme.

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France and the CBSO faultless in New Year's Concert

By Robert Gainer

Chauhan takes CBSO from shaky start to triumphant finale

By Robert Gainer, 27 September 2018

Conductor Alpesh Chauhan and pianist Pavel Kolesnikov returned to Birmingham with an Italian themed programme. Could they build on the success of their previous performances with the CBSO?

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Chauhan takes CBSO from shaky start to triumphant finale

By Robert Gainer

Boris Giltburg and the CBSO power through Prokofiev

By Robert Gainer, 18 April 2018

A triumphant night for the CBSO, Harish Shankar and Boris Giltburg, with the mighty Saint-Saëns’ “Organ Symphony” and an inspired performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto no. 3.

****1

Boris Giltburg and the CBSO power through Prokofiev

By Robert Gainer

Kolesnikov proves a golden substitute in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 28 February 2018

After star pianist Gabriela Montero unfortunately withdrew due to injury, the young Russian Pavel Kolesnikov stepped forward with inspired conductor Joana Wallmitz to save the day.

*****

Kolesnikov proves a golden substitute in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer

A challenging Bruckner Seventh in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 11 January 2018

The CBSO chose a programme that was ostensibly simple, but proved to be deceptively difficult.

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A challenging Bruckner Seventh in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer

The Mariinsky Orchestra excels in an all Russian programme in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 12 October 2017

A night of big names: Valery Gergiev, Denis Matsuev, The Mariinsky Orchestra, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov.

*****

An all Russian programme in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer

Porpora's L'Agrippina offers momentary pleasures 300 years on

By Robert Gainer, 21 September 2017

An opera only ever performed once, over 300 years ago. Would this be a marvellous revival, or a reminder of why it has been neglected all this time?

**111

Porpora's L'Agrippina offers momentary pleasures

By Robert Gainer

Ravi Shankar’s Opera Sukanya Delights in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 15 May 2017

Five years after the composer's death, his musical collaborator David Murphy ensures that Shankar's only operatic work finally gets heard.

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Ravi Shankar’s Opera Sukanya Delights in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer

Fabien Gabel brings a touch of French Romance to Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 26 April 2017

With a Francophile programme of Berlioz, Chopin and Franck, conductor Fabien Gabel had the constant challenge of exploring the orchestra for fresh insights into each of these Romantic works.

***11

Gabel brings French Romance to Birmingham

By Robert Gainer

Benedetti brings a sensational Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto to Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 07 December 2016

With Richard Strauss’s epic symphonic poem and Benedetti performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, the CBSO had major expectations to fulfil.

*****

Benedetti sensational in Tchaikovsky

By Robert Gainer

Intensity and power: Montero and Balsom impress in Shostakovich in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 01 December 2016

Two of today’s brightest soloists take on Mozart and Hummel concertos, then come together with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra for Shostakovich.

****1

Montero and Balsom impress in Shostakovich

By Robert Gainer

Alpesh Chauhan impresses with Mendelssohn's Italian in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 08 June 2016

Mendelsohn's Italian Symphony is a perenial and popular favourite, but perhaps one with which we are over-familiar. Could young Alpesh Chauhan do something fresh with it?

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Alpesh Chauhan impresses with Mendelssohn's Italian in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer

Abrahamsen's Left, Alone receives UK première

By Robert Gainer, 28 April 2016

Sandwiched between Debussy’s charming Children’s Corner and Mahler’s invitation to heaven, Abrahamsen unveiled his piano concerto for left hand. It was certainly a night for stark contrasts in tone and theme.

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Abrahamsen's Left, Alone receives UK première

By Robert Gainer

Bell and Isserlis deliver on the Brahms Double in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 09 January 2016

This 19th century romantic programme promised much, with familiar and rare works by Beethoven, Brahms, Dvořák and Schumann. Could the great orchestra and soloists meet our high expectations?

***11

Bell and Isserlis deliver on the Brahms Double

By Robert Gainer

Seong-Jin Cho makes a great first impression in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 03 November 2015

Introducing a relatively unknown young pianist to Birmingham Symphony Hall and performing an old standard of the symphonic repertoire, could Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia Orchestra produce any surprises?

*****

Seong-Jin Cho makes a great first impression

By Robert Gainer

Manze and the CBSO's German Requiem in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 22 October 2015

Somewhere in the region of 180 singers and instrumentalists faced Andrew Manze as he took the podium at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. Could he handle them? There was never any doubt.

****1

Manze and the CBSO's German Requiem

By Robert Gainer

Triumphant Trpčeski rocks with Rachmaninov in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 23 September 2015

Cristian Măcelaru brought his pedigree as a conductor to the CBSO with Sibelius, Rachmaninov and Nielsen. How would he fare in Birmingham with such a varied programme?

****1

Triumphant Trpčeski rocks with Rachmaninov

By Robert Gainer

Moreton-in-Marsh

Longborough delivers a quality Rigoletto 1920s-style

By Robert Gainer, 04 July 2015

Producing one of the most well-known and popular operas in a fresh way on a limited budget is a challenge for anyone. Longborough Festival Opera show how it can be done.

****1

Moreton-in-Marsh

Longborough delivers a quality Rigoletto 1920s-style

By Robert Gainer

Moreton-in-Marsh

Susanna Hurrell shines at Longborough's Don Pasquale

By Robert Gainer, 03 July 2015

Longborough Festival Opera have opted for Donizetti for the first time, with Don Pasquale. How successful would the cast be at unleashing the ‘feel-good factor’ of opera buffa?

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Moreton-in-Marsh

Longborough's Don Pasquale

By Robert Gainer

Nelsons goes from Birmingham to Boston in a blaze of glory

By Robert Gainer, 18 June 2015

After seven years at the helm, Andris Nelsons gave his last performance with the CBSO at Symphony Hall. His future in Boston is secured, but what of the CBSO?

*****

From Birmingham to Boston in a blaze of glory

By Robert Gainer

Bělohlávek resurrects Mahler at Birmingham's Symphony Hall

By Robert Gainer, 24 April 2015

The Czech Philharmonic performing Mahler’s Second Symphony at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall equals great expectation. The composer and symphony have historical links to the orchestra and venue alike. Could Bělohlávek deliver?

****1

Bělohlávek resurrects Mahler at Symphony Hall

By Robert Gainer