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Simon Thompson

Simon Thompson

Simon lives and works in Edinburgh, and teaches History and Modern Studies at a local high school when he is not writing about music. Born an Irishman, he is an enthusiastic adopted Scot, and has lived in the capital for fifteen years since university days, making the most of its many avenues for classical music. He spends his spare time enthusing about music, theatre, art and literature to anyone who will listen, including his long-suffering students, who have no choice.

Author:Simon Thompson

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Heft and delicacy: the Philharmonia Orchestra makes its Lammermuir Festival debut

By Simon Thompson, 10 September 2025

Bringing the Philharmonia is the most ambitious thing the Lammermuir Festival has ever done, yet it felt like a natural next step for a festival that's growing in stature.

****1

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Heft and delicacy: Philharmonia makes Lammermuir Festival debut

By Simon Thompson

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I Fagiolini make their Lammermuir Festival debut with Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers

By Simon Thompson, 07 September 2025

In their Lammermuir Festival debut, I Fagiolini strike spiritual and musical gold with the Monteverdi Vespers... at least in the first half.

****1

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I Fagiolini make their Lammermuir Festival debut

By Simon Thompson

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A dramatic, declamatory Elijah closes the Edinburgh International Festival

By Simon Thompson, 24 August 2025

The festival’s closing concert brings drama from the RSNO and conductor Thomas Søndergård, but Christopher Maltman's Elijah brings the presence of greatness.

****1

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A dramatic, declamatory Elijah closes the 2025 Edinburgh Festival

By Simon Thompson

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Canellakis brings sparkle and shine to Stravinsky and Bernstein in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson, 21 August 2025

Karina Canellakis brings a riot of Technicolor to the Edinburgh International Festival, but countertenor Hugh Cutting threatens to steal the show in Chichester Psalms.

****1

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Canellakis brings sparkle and shine to Stravinsky and Bernstein

By Simon Thompson

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Aurora Orchestra dazzle in Edinburgh International Festival debut

By Simon Thompson, 18 August 2025

Aurora Orchestra turn Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony inside out to exhilarating effect in a dazzling performance in their Scottish debut. Abel Selaocoe’s Four Spirits, on the other hand, has surface shine but not much substance.

****1

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Aurora dazzle in Edinburgh International Festival debut

By Simon Thompson

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LSO launches Edinburgh residency with larger-than-life Beethoven and Shostakovich

By Simon Thompson, 12 August 2025

Sir Antonio Pappano's skills as a communicator are clear, whether he's speaking or conducting, but it's the depth of the LSO's sound that impresses most as it launches its EIF residency.

****1

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LSO launches Edinburgh International Festival residency

By Simon Thompson

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Edward Gardner brings the London Philharmonic to the Edinburgh International Festival

By Simon Thompson, 05 August 2025

The Planets gets the star treatment from Gardner and the LPO, while Beatrice Rana brings disarming delicacy to Rachmaninov.

****1

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Edward Gardner brings the London Philharmonic to the EIF

By Simon Thompson

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A constellation of quartets and an ambitious end to the East Neuk Festival

By Simon Thompson, 29 June 2025

Sixteen of the finest string players around join forces on one stage to end the East Neuk Festival in a grand finale.

****1

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A constellation of quartets end the East Neuk Festival

By Simon Thompson

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A soul-shaking Winterreise from Mark Padmore and Joseph Middleton

By Simon Thompson, 27 June 2025

This year's East Neuk Festival features all three of Schubert's song cycles, but this Winterreise was the one that gripped the heart.

*****

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A soul-shaking Winterreise from Mark Padmore and Joseph Middleton

By Simon Thompson

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Melting Mendelssohn from Randall Goosby and the RSNO in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson, 30 May 2025

Sunny delight for Debussy and Mendelssohn; squally showers for Auerbach's Chimera: a summer programme from the RSNO that's as changeable as the weather.

***11

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Melting Mendelssohn from Randall Goosby and the RSNO in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson

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Three meditations on death and mourning with the RSNO in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson, 25 April 2025

Mozart's Requiem packs in the crowd, but it's Berg's Violin Concerto with Carolin Widmann that really finds the spiritual depth.

****1

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Three meditations on death and mourning with the RSNO in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson

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Virtuoso playing in an unforgettable venue: 5-star musicianship in Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie

By Simon Thompson, 06 April 2025

Our writer is dazzled by the venue, but the music that the Hamburgers play in it proves pretty dazzling too; Martinů’s Double Concerto is a showcase for both the players and the hall.

*****

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5-star musicianship in Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie

By Simon Thompson

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Super Schubert saves the day: Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Isabelle van Keulen

By Simon Thompson, 27 March 2025

Schubert's Third Symphony is treated like a masterpiece by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra under director Isabelle van Keulen.

***11

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Super Schubert saves the day: SCO with Isabelle van Keulen

By Simon Thompson

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Anna Clyne's magnificent cello concerto crowns the RSNO's programme of music for the dance

By Simon Thompson, 21 March 2025

Emilia Hoving makes a superb debut with the RSNO, including Dance, an exciting new cello concerto.

*****

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Anna Clyne's magnificent cello concerto crowns the RSNO programme

By Simon Thompson

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Thomas Søndergård and the RSNO: Mahler 9 teetering on the edge of the abyss

By Simon Thompson, 21 February 2025

The RSNO's Mahler explorations continue with a Ninth Symphony that's haunted and shaken, but always full of life.

****1

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A Mahler 9 teetering on the edge of the abyss

By Simon Thompson

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David Niemann conducts a searing Pathétique at the RSNO's Valentine's concert

By Simon Thompson, 14 February 2025

A great RSNO season debut from conductor David Niemann, with impressive Wagner and a searing Pathétique Symphony.

****1

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David Niemann conducts a searing Pathétique with the RSNO

By Simon Thompson

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A winner from start to finish: National Youth Orchestra of Germany end UK tour

By Simon Thompson, 19 January 2025

The National Youth Orchestra of Germany end their UK tour in Edinburgh with playing of Technicolor brilliance and fearless confidence.

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A winner from start to finish: National Youth Orchestra of Germany

By Simon Thompson

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Pritchin and Emelyanychev bring warmth and period transparency to Prokofiev and Brahms

By Simon Thompson, 05 December 2024

Aylen Pritchin is the star actor in the drama of Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto in Edinburgh's Usher Hall.

****1

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SCO brings warmth and period transparency to Prokofiev and Brahms

By Simon Thompson

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Three centuries of music from Andrew Manze and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

By Simon Thompson, 14 November 2024

A typically omnivorous programme from Manze and the SCO in which principal flautist André Cebrián dazzles in a Mozart concerto. But it was all nearly upstaged by a solo lament for the Valencia floods.

****1

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Three centuries of music from Andrew Manze and the SCO

By Simon Thompson

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Northern Lights: Nordic Music Days festival visits Scotland for the first time

By Simon Thompson, 31 October 2024

Andrew Manze and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra provide Northern Light from two Swedish composers, but sinister darkness from two Scots.

****1

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Northern Lights: Nordic Music Days festival visits Scotland

By Simon Thompson

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Music of the 20th and 18th centuries in dialogue: Maxim Emelyanychev and the SCO

By Simon Thompson, 10 October 2024

Chilly neoclassical elegance and fizzing Baroque excitement from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in Edinburgh.

***11

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Music of the 20th and 18th centuries in dialogue

By Simon Thompson

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The RSNO's season begins with Mahler's Resurrection Symphony

By Simon Thompson, 04 October 2024

Thomas Søndergård's Mahler cycle with the RSNO continues with patchy singing but brilliant orchestral playing.

****1

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The RSNO's season begins with Mahler's Resurrection Symphony

By Simon Thompson

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Dvořák’s music takes centre stage in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s season opener

By Simon Thompson, 27 September 2024

Dvořák, the SCO and conductor Maxim Emelyanychev are a winning combination, but does Steven Isserlis steal everyone’s thunder?

****1

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Dvořák’s music takes centre stage in the SCO's season opener

By Simon Thompson

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An evening of song from La Belle Époque with Veronique Gens

By Simon Thompson, 10 September 2024

One of the Lammermuir Festival's miniature miracles: Véronique Gens and Joseph Middleton present an evening of French chansons in the East Lothian countryside.

****1

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An evening of song from La Belle Époque with Veronique Gens

By Simon Thompson

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Sir Mark Elder bows out with Mahler 5 at the Edinburgh International Festival

By Simon Thompson, 17 August 2024

Lili Boulanger evokes the abyss and Mahler struggles out of it, as Sir Mark Elder bids his final farewell to the Hallé.

*****

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Sir Mark Elder bows out with Mahler 5 in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson

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Edinburgh International Festival explodes into life with Golijov's La Pasión según San Marcos

By Simon Thompson, 03 August 2024

Golijov's La Pasión según San Marcos is full of life, but seeing it as well as hearing it definitely helps.

****1

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Edinburgh Festival explodes into life with Golijov's St Mark Passion

By Simon Thompson

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A stellar evening of Czech music at the East Neuk Festival

By Simon Thompson, 27 June 2024

The Belfiato Wind Quintet and Pavel Haas Quartet bring unique intensity to the East Neuk Festival's Czech night, quivering with intensity as they bring their homeland's music to life.

*****

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A stellar evening of Czech music at the East Neuk Festival

By Simon Thompson

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Safe, solid, super: Flanders Symphony finishes UK tour in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson, 23 June 2024

The Flanders Symphony Orchestra finish their UK tour in Edinburgh with Mozart and Beethoven: safe repertoire, but it's played with focus and energy.

****1

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Safe, solid, super: Flanders Symphony finishes UK tour in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson

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Andrew Manze conducts the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in all Vaughan Williams

By Simon Thompson, 02 May 2024

The amateurs of the SCO Academy play Vaughan Williams' Concerto Grosso alongside the orchestra's professionals, and there is glorious warmth in the Fifth Symphony. Just don't ask me to love The Lark Ascending.

****1

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Andrew Manze conducts the SCO in all Vaughan Williams

By Simon Thompson

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Wilson the Wizard brings magic to The Planets with the RSNO in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson, 19 April 2024

John Wilson brings the best out of both Holst's music and the players of the RSNO, though Alice Coote fails to hit the heights in Elgar's Sea Pictures.

****1

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Wilson the Wizard brings magic to The Planets in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson

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Thomas Adès conducts the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in a fascinating programme

By Simon Thompson, 11 April 2024

Thomas Adès conducts a new version of his own The Origin of the Harp, but music by Woolrich and Weir falls to grip.

***11

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Thomas Adès conducts the SCO in fascinating programme

By Simon Thompson

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Spectacular Saint-Saëns from Trpčeski at the RSNO’s Valentine’s Concert

By Simon Thompson, 16 February 2024

Trpčeski sparkles in Saint-Saëns' Second Piano Concerto in an adventurous Valentine's treat, while a slimmed-down fantasia makes Szymanowski's King Roger digestible.

****1

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Spectacular Saint-Saëns at the RSNO’s Valentine’s Concert

By Simon Thompson

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Ancient and modern juxtapositions from Emelyanychev and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

By Simon Thompson, 07 December 2023

Maxim Emelyanychev forges connections between composers ancient and modern, but it's the Baroque composers who come off best as played by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

***11

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Ancient and modern from Emelyanychev and the SCO

By Simon Thompson

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Scheherazade sparkles, but Icarus fails to soar

By Simon Thompson, 01 December 2023

Lera Auerbach's Icarus serves up lots of flavours without much meat, but the RSNO's new principal cello makes a first class soloist debut with them in Shostakovich.

****1

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Scheherazade sparkles, but Icarus fails to soar

By Simon Thompson

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Ray Chen's Sibelius takes flight with the RSNO

By Simon Thompson, 03 November 2023

An Usher Hall fire alarm interrupts Thomas Søndergård and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra's rendition of Dvořák’s Sixth Symphony.

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Ray Chen's Sibelius takes flight with the RSNO

By Simon Thompson

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Ryan Bancroft dances through Wallen and Copland with the SCO

By Simon Thompson, 02 November 2023

Errollyn Wallen's new piece is a treat, while the complete Appalachian Spring reveals new depths to Copland's score.

****1

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Ryan Bancroft dances through Wallen and Copland with the SCO

By Simon Thompson

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Superb Sibelius from the RSNO and Kristiina Poska in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson, 27 October 2023

A Sibelius symphony where everything worked, and a high-sugar treat from Rachel Barton Pine.

****1

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Superb Sibelius from the RSNO and Kristiina Poska in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson

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Shimmering Scriabin and fervent Bells to close the Edinburgh International Festival

By Simon Thompson, 27 August 2023

Karina Canellakis conducts the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in a programme of large scale repertoire to close the 2023 Edinburgh International Festival.

****1

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Fervent Bells close the Edinburgh Festival

By Simon Thompson

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Beautiful Brahms from the Belcea Quartet and special guests in the East Neuk Festival

By Simon Thompson, 29 June 2023

Heavenly strings and Hellish piano from the Belcea Quartet and their celebrity guests in Crail as the 2023 East Neuk Festival begins.

****1

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Beautiful Brahms from the Belcea Quartet at East Neuk

By Simon Thompson

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Heaven can wait: the RSNO end their season with an earthbound Verdi Requiem

By Simon Thompson, 09 June 2023

Thomas Søndergård conducts a Verdi Requiem in Edinburgh's Usher Hall where the component parts rarely cohere as a whole.

**111

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Heaven can wait: the RSNO ends season with an earthbound Verdi Requiem

By Simon Thompson

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An evening of Widmann, Mozart and the glass harmonica with the RSNO

By Simon Thompson, 02 June 2023

Widmann brings his composing personality to conducting Mozart, and uses the glass harmonica to create a sound that's as eerie as it's unforgettable.

****1

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An evening of Widmann, Mozart and the glass harmonica with the RSNO

By Simon Thompson

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Colour and sparkle from the RSNO and John Wilson in Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances

By Simon Thompson, 10 March 2023

John Wilson brings colour, sparkle and dynamism to Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances with the RSNO, while principal clarinet Timothy Orpen winds his way through Copland's Clarinet Concerto.

****1

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Colour and sparkle from the RSNO and John Wilson in Rachmaninov

By Simon Thompson

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Illustrated Pictures at an Exhibition crowns colourful RSNO concert

By Simon Thompson, 03 March 2023

A smorgasbord of delights from the RSNO that ranges from the absurdist nihilism of Ligeti to a unique Pictures at an Exhibition with artist James Mayhew.

*****

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Illustrated Pictures at an Exhibition crowns colourful RSNO concert

By Simon Thompson

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The SCO bring forward one of their own to play Mozart's Flute Concerto

By Simon Thompson, 16 February 2023

André Cebrián dazzles as the flute soloist in a Mozart concerto, but Joana Carneiro's conducting only intermittently draws magic from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

***11

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The SCO bring forward one of their own to play Mozart's Flute Concerto

By Simon Thompson

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Franco-American fusion from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson, 12 January 2023

Joseph Swensen shoogles and swings in Poulenc and Milhaud in an exploration of different musical cultures and a fusion of classical and jazz.

****1

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Franco-American fusion from the SCO in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson

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Bruno Delepelaire and Han-Na Chang dazzle in Elgar and Beethoven with the RSNO

By Simon Thompson, 09 December 2022

Bruno Delepelaire plays unforgettable Elgar, while Han-Na Chang makes a terrific debut in the RSNO's final season concert of 2022.

*****

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Bruno Delepelaire and Han-Na Chang dazzle with the RSNO

By Simon Thompson

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Music for star-crossed lovers with Ludovic Morlot and the RSNO

By Simon Thompson, 02 December 2022

Ludovic Morlot conducts the RSNO in a relationship that blossoms into love... eventually.

***11

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Music for star-crossed lovers with Ludovic Morlot and the RSNO

By Simon Thompson

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Denis Kozhukhin plays Grieg with the RSNO: if only all stand-ins were this good!

By Simon Thompson, 18 November 2022

Denis Kozhukhin is a late stand in for Grieg's Piano Concerto, while Jonathan Heyward shapes Beethoven's Seventh with ambition and energy.

****1

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Denis Kozhukhin steps in to play Grieg with the RSNO

By Simon Thompson

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Anthony Marwood leads the Scottish Chamber Orchestra forwards in time

By Simon Thompson, 03 November 2022

A concept album of a programme which might not quite have cohered, but whose components were never less than lovely.

****1

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Anthony Marwood leads the Scottish Chamber Orchestra forwards in time

By Simon Thompson

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Home again! The New York Philharmonic moves into its new home at Lincoln Center

By Simon Thompson, 18 October 2022

Is the curse broken? Probably. The New York Philharmonic sound terrific in their first concerts in the newly rebuilt David Geffen Hall.

****1

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Home again! The New York Philharmonic moves into its new home

By Simon Thompson