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Benjamin Poore

Benjamin Poore

Benjamin Poore is a writer and critic. His book on psychoanalysis and literature is forthcoming in 2019. He has previously written about literature and culture for the Independent, the Times Literary Supplement, and Times Higher Education. In his spare time he tries to sing Schubert; he has a very patient teacher.

Author:Benjamin Poore

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A luminous start to Rachmaninov's anniversary year from Tenebrae

By Benjamin Poore, 26 January 2023

Nigel Short's elite consort casts a candlelit spell at St Martin-in-the-Fields in a performance of Rachmaninov's All Night Vigil.

****1

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A luminous start to Rachmaninov's anniversary year from Tenebrae

By Benjamin Poore

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Unreal city: The Rake's Progress at the Royal Academy of Music

By Benjamin Poore, 22 November 2022

Frederic Wake-Walker's realisation of the Hogarth-inspired opera is visually bracing and assuredly sung.

****1

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Unreal city: The Rake's Progress at the Royal Academy of Music

By Benjamin Poore

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Fair play from Kevin John Edusei and the LSO in Stravinsky's Petrushka

By Benjamin Poore, 27 October 2022

A muted Bartók violin concerto is offset by a scintillating Petrushka at the Barbican.

***11

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Fair play from Edusei and the LSO in Stravinsky's Petrushka

By Benjamin Poore

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Pappano takes no prisoners in Dallapiccola and Respighi

By Benjamin Poore, 05 June 2022

Sir Antonio Pappano and the LSO offer a riveting account of Il prigioniero, an idiosyncratic 20th-century opera.

****1

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Pappano takes no prisoners in Dallapiccola and Respighi

By Benjamin Poore

Simon Wall’s Evangelist the centrepiece of The Hanover Band's St John Passion at Kings Place

By Benjamin Poore, 13 April 2022

Precise and contoured lamentation supported by thrilling chorus work at Kings Place

***11

The Hanover Band's St John Passion at Kings Place

By Benjamin Poore

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Cancelled Christmas? Knot on your life: Bach at Wigmore Hall

By Benjamin Poore, 20 December 2021

The Solomon's Knot collective offered a lively account of four cantatas from Bach's Christmas Oratorio.

****1

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Cancelled Christmas? Knot on your life: Bach at Wigmore Hall

By Benjamin Poore

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Good tidings of great joy from the Dunedin Consort at Wigmore Hall

By Benjamin Poore, 18 December 2021

Handel's Christmas classic gets a fresh lick of paint from John Butt and colleagues.

*****

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Good tidings of great joy from the Dunedin Consort at Wigmore Hall

By Benjamin Poore

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Pierre-Laurent Aimard and his Philharmonia aviary take flight

By Benjamin Poore, 28 October 2021

The Philharmonia shine in a well-crafted programme of French music with a feathery focus

***11

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Pierre-Laurent Aimard and his Philharmonia aviary take flight

By Benjamin Poore

Pack your passport for a musical journey with Chloé van Soeterstède

By Benjamin Poore, 22 June 2021

Sean Shibe impresses alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a programme of nimble works at the Cadogan Hall.

****1

Pack your passport for a musical journey with Chloé van Soeterstède

By Benjamin Poore

The LSO and Nicola Benedetti showcase breathtaking new music

By Benjamin Poore, 13 June 2021

A programme of works by living composers showcases a dazzling new violin concerto.

*****

The LSO and Nicola Benedetti showcase breathtaking new music

By Benjamin Poore

Stylish sparks fly with Kerem Hasan and the LSO

By Benjamin Poore, 07 October 2020

A vibrant evening of dance and drama from the London Symphony Orchestra in music by Bartók, Strauss, and Hannah Kendall.

****1

Stylish sparks fly with Kerem Hasan and the LSO

By Benjamin Poore

Visions of the beyond at the Ragged School Museum

By Benjamin Poore, 02 October 2020

The Second Ragged Music Festival showcases young musicians in Bach and Messiaen in East London.

****1

Visions of the beyond at the Ragged School Museum

By Benjamin Poore

Comedy with knobs on: English National Opera's new Figaro

By Benjamin Poore, 14 March 2020

A witty, insightful production at the Coliseum fizzes with comedy and pathos.

****1

Comedy with knobs on: English National Opera's new Figaro

By Benjamin Poore

An early Christmas present from Stephen Layton & Co.

By Benjamin Poore, 23 December 2019

A lithe and engaging performance of Handel's festive regular from Polyphony and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

****1

An early Christmas present from Stephen Layton & Co.

By Benjamin Poore

Bravura Strauss and Beethoven from Jakub Hrůša

By Benjamin Poore, 08 December 2019

Stylish Mozart and volcanic Beethoven from the Philharmonia orchestra and their principal guest conductor Jakub Hrůša.

****1

Bravura Strauss and Beethoven from Jakub Hrůša

By Benjamin Poore

Sound and vision come together at the Barbican as Colin Currie conducts Reich/Richter

By Benjamin Poore, 23 October 2019

A new collaboration from Gerhard Richter and Steve Reich tantalises and enthralls in London.

****1

Colin Currie conducts Reich/Richter at the Barbican

By Benjamin Poore

A sparkling Seraglio from English Touring Opera

By Benjamin Poore, 04 October 2019

English Touring Opera open their autumn season with the first of two Singspiels.

****1

A sparkling Seraglio from English Touring Opera

By Benjamin Poore

Revelatory Messiaen from the LSO and Rattle

By Benjamin Poore, 15 September 2019

A searing account of Messiaen's late orchestral behemoth.

*****

Revelatory Messiaen from the LSO and Rattle

By Benjamin Poore

Prom 70: startling sounds from Jonny Greenwood at the Proms

By Benjamin Poore, 10 September 2019

An inventive programme frames new music by a genre-defying composer and guitarist in a striking late-night concert.

***11

Prom 70: startling sounds from Jonny Greenwood at the Proms

By Benjamin Poore

Prom 8: an invitation to the dance from Eötvös and the BBC SO

By Benjamin Poore, 24 July 2019

Peter Eötvös and the BBC Symphony Orchestra offer a new music and a clever programme for this lively Prom concert.

***11

Prom 8: an invitation to the dance from Eötvös and the BBC SO

By Benjamin Poore

Into the Woods: Hansel and Gretel at Grange Park Opera

By Benjamin Poore, 23 June 2019

Darkness sits alongside comedy in a new production of Humperdinck's delicious children's opera.

***11

Into the Woods: Hansel and Gretel at Grange Park Opera

By Benjamin Poore

Brooding and visceral Tchaikovsky from the Tekfen Philharmonic in Istanbul

By Benjamin Poore, 17 June 2019

An occasionally uneven but often searing set of performances from the Tekfen Philharmonic and cellist Daniel Muller-Schott.

****1

Brooding and visceral Tchaikovsky from the Tekfen Philharmonic

By Benjamin Poore

Wandering through musical and cultural history in Istanbul's Samatya

By Benjamin Poore, 16 June 2019

A diverse and complex Istanbul neighbourhood hosts ensembles and programmes from across Europe and Asia

Wandering through musical and cultural history in Istanbul's Samatya

By Benjamin Poore

Fireworks from Yuja Wang in Turkey

By Benjamin Poore, 15 June 2019

Daredevil piano playing and luscious Stravinsky at the 47th Istanbul Music Festival.

****1

Fireworks from Yuja Wang in Turkey

By Benjamin Poore

Unforgettable Stockhausen in London

By Benjamin Poore, 01 June 2019

Music at its most urgent extremes from Pierre-Laurent Aimard in the Southbank Stockhausen festival.

*****

Unforgettable Stockhausen in London

By Benjamin Poore

Bacchic ebullience in Beethoven from Thomas Adès at the Barbican

By Benjamin Poore, 26 May 2019

The culmination of Thomas Ades' Beethoven cycle with the Britten Sinfonia channels Beethoven's atavistic energies.

****1

Bacchic ebullience in Beethoven from Thomas Adès

By Benjamin Poore

Blazing Mahler from Simon Rattle and the LSO

By Benjamin Poore, 08 May 2019

The London Symphony Orchestra excel in an intense evening of Britten and Mahler at the Barbican.

****1

Blazing Mahler from Simon Rattle and the LSO

By Benjamin Poore

Silence in Court! John Wilson and the OAE return a “not guilty” verdict

By Benjamin Poore, 18 April 2019

A classy and charming adventure through Gilbert & Sullivan with the OAE and John Wilson .

***11

Wilson and the OAE return a “not guilty” verdict

By Benjamin Poore

Smouldering Beethoven and barnstorming Ives from Elder and the LSO

By Benjamin Poore, 14 April 2019

Plenty of mustard with Ives' beguiling Americana and intelligent Beethoven from Kirill Gerstein.

***11

Smouldering Beethoven and barnstorming Ives from Elder and the LSO

By Benjamin Poore

Star-studded, searing Bach at the Royal Festival Hall

By Benjamin Poore, 02 April 2019

Challenging and vivid Bach in the first UK showing of Peter Sellars' staging of Bach's great liturgical masterpiece.

****1

Star-studded, searing Bach at the Royal Festival Hall

By Benjamin Poore

Explosive Schubert and deft Mozart from the Philharmonia

By Benjamin Poore, 24 March 2019

Considered Mozart and volcanic Schubert in a Viennese programme at the Royal Festival Hall.

***11

Explosive Schubert and deft Mozart from the Philharmonia

By Benjamin Poore

Here be monsters: a bracing new Idomeneo from English Touring Opera

By Benjamin Poore, 08 March 2019

A direct and expressive new production of one of Mozart's most adventurous operas enthrals at the Hackney Empire.

****1

A bracing new Idomeneo from English Touring Opera

By Benjamin Poore

Blazing colours and dark intensity from Ensemble Modern at the Roundhouse

By Benjamin Poore, 06 March 2019

Bold and colourful invocations of twentieth-century classics from Ensemble Modern and composer George Benjamin.

****1

Ensemble Modern at the Roundhouse

By Benjamin Poore

Salonen shines as both composer and conductor with the Philharmonia

By Benjamin Poore, 24 February 2019

Salonen's own Cello Concerto lay at the centre of the evening's programme, with Truls Mørk as soloist.

****1

Salonen shines as both composer and conductor with the Philharmonia

By Benjamin Poore

All Reich on the Night with the London Sinfonietta

By Benjamin Poore, 12 February 2019

Exemplary performances of classic works by the American minimalist from the London Sinfonietta

****1

All Reich on the Night with the London Sinfonietta

By Benjamin Poore

Baroque Futurism: Mesmerising soundscapes from Mahan Esfahani at the Barbican

By Benjamin Poore, 17 January 2019

Thrilling and spellbinding experimental music for harpsichord and electronics, performed by Mahan Esfahani.

*****

Baroque Futurism: Mesmerising soundscapes from Mahan Esfahani

By Benjamin Poore

Pensiveness and intensity from Kolesnikov, Bukša and the Hermès Quartet

By Benjamin Poore, 06 January 2019

A chamber version of Chopin is outshone by Chausson's compositional ingenuity.

****1

Pensiveness and intensity from Kolesnikov and friends

By Benjamin Poore

Happy New Year from Aurora and friends

By Benjamin Poore, 31 December 2018

An adventurous and unusual end to Kings Place's Time Unwrapped series and some striking collaborations with Aurora Orchestra.

Happy New Year from Aurora and friends

By Benjamin Poore

Heady Mozart and Strauss for dessert at Aurora's New Year's Eve concert

By Benjamin Poore, 31 December 2018

Imogen Cooper shone in Aurora's serious and fulsome performances of Mozart.

****1

Heady Mozart and Strauss for dessert

By Benjamin Poore

Not quite the Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall

By Benjamin Poore, 21 December 2018

Competent if underwhelming Handel from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Maxim Emelyanchev.

**111

Not quite the Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall

By Benjamin Poore

Uneasy music, utterly riveting: Mitsuko Uchida plays late Schubert

By Benjamin Poore, 04 December 2018

Enigmatic and uncanny piano music from Schubert in an intense recital at the Royal Festival Hall.

*****

Mitsuko Uchida plays late Schubert in London

By Benjamin Poore

Divine Geometry measures up under Kristjan Järvi

By Benjamin Poore, 29 November 2018

The LSO served up a lively programme of genre-defying UK premières at the Barbican.

***11

Divine Geometry measures up under Kristjan Järvi

By Benjamin Poore

Sumptuous Schumann and bracing Brahms from the Nash Ensemble at Wigmore Hall

By Benjamin Poore, 24 November 2018

Awkard programming but fine musicianship from the Nash Ensemble and Christine Rice as part of its 'German Romantics' series.

***11

Sumptuous Schumann and bracing Brahms from the Nash Ensemble

By Benjamin Poore

Mysterious and glittering machines from Alasdair Beatson at Kings Place

By Benjamin Poore, 14 November 2018

Alasdair Beatson presented a dazzling programme of 20th-century piano music, with Harrison Birtwistle at its centre.

*****

Mysterious and glittering machines from Alasdair Beatson

By Benjamin Poore

Mournful and humane Brahms at the Royal Festival Hall

By Benjamin Poore, 11 November 2018

Marin Alsop and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment lead a searing account of Brahms' German Requiem and Vaughan Williams.

****1

Mournful and humane Brahms at the Royal Festival Hall

By Benjamin Poore

Luminous decay from Imogen Cooper at Kings Place

By Benjamin Poore, 28 October 2018

A programme of late Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert explores music at the limits.

****1

Luminous decay from Imogen Cooper at Kings Place

By Benjamin Poore

Bach up close and personal: English Touring Opera's St Matthew Passion

By Benjamin Poore, 18 October 2018

Immersive, direct and passionate Bach from English Touring Opera and the Old Street Band.

***11

Bach up close and personal: English Touring Opera's St Matthew Passion

By Benjamin Poore

“Once upon a time”: Rossini's Cinderella in Cardiff

By Benjamin Poore, 05 October 2018

Delights both sugary and strange in this revival of La Cenerentola by Welsh National Opera.

****1

“Once upon a time”: Rossini's Cinderella in Cardiff

By Benjamin Poore

Stark and grief-stricken: Dido and Aeneas at the Barbican

By Benjamin Poore, 02 October 2018

A semi-staged Dido from the Academy of Ancient Music and the speculative funeral music for a queen.

****1

Stark and grief-stricken: Dido and Aeneas at the Barbican

By Benjamin Poore

Scintillating Beethoven and Gruber from Aurora Orchestra

By Benjamin Poore, 16 September 2018

Smoke and Mirrors in the title, but nothing unreal about the performances at the Southbank.

****1

Scintillating Beethoven and Gruber from Aurora Orchestra

By Benjamin Poore