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Clare Varney

Clare Varney

Clare is a freelance writer and music critic from the UK, currently living in the Netherlands where she writes about Music, Food and Culture. Clare is a passionate musician, having learnt the violin and piano from an early age. When not at her laptop writing, she spends her time nurturing the next generation of brass players, all from her Dutch kitchen in the sky. Read more at The Spidy Editor.

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Miro Petkov and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Milagro Elstak

Black American music finds a new voice at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 18 June 2026

Dutch premieres, new faces and new arrangements result in a concert quite unlike any other from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Antony Hermus.

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Miro Petkov and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Milagro Elstak

Black American music finds a new voice at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Alexander Malofeev © Simon van Boxtel

Alexander Malofeev conjures sophistication and colourful nuance at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 10 May 2026

Sitting low on the piano stool and with his head gently bobbing from side to side, this is music to listen to on repeat.

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Alexander Malofeev © Simon van Boxtel

Alexander Malofeev conjures sophistication at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Sir Antonio Pappano conducts the London Symphony Orchestra © Oliver Hitzegrad

Denis Kozhukhin’s captivating storytelling compels on tour with the London Symphony Orchestra

By Clare Varney, 01 May 2026

At the Konzerthaus Dortmund, Sir Antonio Pappano and the LSO are joined by Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin to plunge into the depths of despair in Bernstein’s melancholic The Age of Anxiety.

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Sir Antonio Pappano conducts the London Symphony Orchestra © Oliver Hitzegrad

Denis Kozhukhin: captivating storytelling with the London Symphony

By Clare Varney

Sol Gabetta and Semyon Bychkov with the Czech Philharmonic © Petr Chodura

Sol Gabetta bares her soul in Elgar as Czech Phil tour reaches Dortmund

By Clare Varney, 23 April 2026

Semyon Bychkov conducts the Czech Phil on their latest European tour with the music of Elgar and Stravinsky.

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Sol Gabetta and Semyon Bychkov with the Czech Philharmonic © Petr Chodura

Sol Gabetta bares her soul in Elgar on Czech Phil tour

By Clare Varney

The Passenger © Dutch National Opera | Monika Rittershaus

Weinberg’s The Passenger paints the horror of Auschwitz in a different light

By Clare Varney, 17 April 2026

Tobias Kratzer's 2024 Munich production makes its way to Amsterdam, proving that Weinberg's opera has the power to transfix.

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The Passenger © Dutch National Opera | Monika Rittershaus

Weinberg’s The Passenger at Dutch National Opera

By Clare Varney

Mary Bevan (Neola) and Julia Bullock (Scientist) © Marco Borggreve

Defining opera for a modern age: Michel van der Aa’s Theory of Flames in Amsterdam

By Clare Varney, 06 March 2026

British singers Mary Bevan and Roderick Williams lead the cast in Dutch National Opera’s latest ground-breaking opera, merging live music with pre-recorded film and electronics.

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Mary Bevan (Neola) and Julia Bullock (Scientist) © Marco Borggreve

Michel van der Aa’s Theory of Flames: defining opera for a modern age

By Clare Varney

Rafael Payare conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Simon van Boxtel

Rafael Payare makes an unconvincing Royal Concertgebouw debut

By Clare Varney, 19 February 2026

Frank Peter Zimmermann joins the orchestra to bring Frank Martin’s seldom heard Violin Concerto back to the Netherlands.

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Rafael Payare conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Simon van Boxtel

Rafael Payare makes an unconvincing Royal Concertgebouw debut

By Clare Varney

Lucie Horsch © Simon Fowler

Ghouls, ghosts and woodland wonder: Lucie Horsch and B’Rock at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 25 January 2026

Dutch virtuoso Lucie Horsch plays Baroque recorder – just not how we usually expect it.

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Lucie Horsch © Simon Fowler

Ghouls, ghosts and woodland wonder: B’Rock at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Jaap van Zweden, Leonidas Kavakos and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Eduardus Lee

Jaap van Zweden, the Dutch wanderer, returns to the Concertgebouw Orchestra

By Clare Varney, 21 January 2026

Leonidas Kavakos joins the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for an evening of Hollywood glamour and lush Romantacism.

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Jaap van Zweden, Leonidas Kavakos and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Eduardus Lee

Jaap van Zweden, Dutch wanderer, rejoins the Concertgebouw Orchestra

By Clare Varney

Edward Gardner conducts the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic © Harold de Smet

Edward Gardner conducts an emotional L'Enfance du Christ in Utrecht

By Clare Varney, 19 December 2025

The Netherlands National Radio Choir and National Children's Choir amplify the emotional intensity of Berlioz's L’ Enfance du Christ at TivoliVredenburg.

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Edward Gardner conducts the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic © Harold de Smet

Edward Gardner conducts an emotional L'Enfance du Christ in Utrecht

By Clare Varney

Il Gardellino in rehearsal with Christoph Prégardien © Charles Zhao

Festive Bach at the Concertgebouw from Il Gardellino

By Clare Varney, 15 December 2025

Christoph Prégardien joins Il Gardellino on tour in Amsterdam with Bach's four of the cantatas from the Christmas Oratorio.

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Il Gardellino in rehearsal with Christoph Prégardien © Charles Zhao

Festive Bach at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

John Wilson conducts the Sinfonia of London © Eduardus Lee

A very British affair: Sinfonia of London makes their international debut at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 25 November 2025

British pianist Ben Grosvenor joins the Sinfonia of London in Amsterdam for Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto showcasing the very best of British talent

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John Wilson conducts the Sinfonia of London © Eduardus Lee

Sinfonia of London makes international debut at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Petr Popelka © Khalil Baalbaki

History at every turn: the Wiener Symphoniker parties in style at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 03 November 2025

Jan Lisiecki joins Petr Popelka and the touring Wiener Symphoniker at the Concertgebouw for Grieg's Piano Concerto.

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Petr Popelka © Khalil Baalbaki

Wiener Symphoniker parties in style at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Daniel Lozakovich © Martin Raphaël Martiq

Tchaikovsky to die for: Daniel Lozakovich makes his debut with the Rotterdam Philharmonic

By Clare Varney, 09 October 2025

Tarmo Peltokoski searches in vain for the harsh brutality in Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony with the Rotterdam Philharmonic.

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Daniel Lozakovich © Martin Raphaël Martiq

Daniel Lozakovich makes his debut with the Rotterdam Philharmonic

By Clare Varney

Barbara Hannigan conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Milagro Elstak

Delving the depths of sorrow: Barbara Hannigan conducts the Royal Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 02 October 2025

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra puts Persian music centre stage with the Dutch premiere of Tehran-based composer Golfam Khayam's I am a tale not to be told.

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Barbara Hannigan conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Milagro Elstak

Barbara Hannigan conducts the Royal Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Eduardus Lee (May 2025)

Dramatic French flair from Thibaudet, Mäkelä and the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 17 September 2025

Jean-Yves Thibaudet’s astonishing technical prowess in Saint-Saëns’ Fifth Piano Concerto entrances Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.

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Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Eduardus Lee (May 2025)

Dramatic French flair from Thibaudet, Mäkelä and the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Jun Märkl conducts the Residentie Orkest, The Hague © Wouter Vellekoop (2022)

Residentie Orkest has a new story to tell at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 24 August 2025

Artist-in-Residence Bomsori Kim joins Jun Märkl for a new chapter in the history of the Residentie Orkest, The Hague.

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Jun Märkl conducts the Residentie Orkest, The Hague © Wouter Vellekoop (2022)

Residentie Orkest has a new story to tell at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Joshua Weilerstein conducts the Orchestre National de Lille © Ugo Ponte | ONL

A dramatic Fantastique from the Orchestre National de Lille at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 16 July 2025

New Chief Conductor Joshua Weilerstein brings the ONL to Amsterdam's Concertgebouw for a programme including Berlioz' Symphonie fantastique and Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, featuring Edgar Moreau.

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Joshua Weilerstein conducts the Orchestre National de Lille © Ugo Ponte | ONL

A dramatic Fantastique from the Orchestre National de Lille

By Clare Varney

Karina Canellakis conducts the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra © Melle Meivogel

Williams and Cargill shine in The Dream of Gerontius with Canellakis and the Netherlands RPO

By Clare Varney, 13 June 2025

British vocal talent adds some very British glamour to the closing Avrotros Friday concert featuring Elgar's most famous oratorio.

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Karina Canellakis conducts the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra © Melle Meivogel

Williams and Cargill shine in The Dream of Gerontius

By Clare Varney

Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Eduardus Lee

A monumental Eighth from Klaus Mäkelä and the Royal Concertgebouw in Mahler Festival

By Clare Varney, 18 May 2025

Time stands still in Amsterdam as seven soloists and four choirs join forces with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for one of Mahler's greatest challenges, his Eighth Symphony.

*****

Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Eduardus Lee

A monumental Eighth from Klaus Mäkelä and the Royal Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Anna Lucia Richter and Christiane Karg with Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra © Jessie Kamp

Earth-shattering Mahler 2 from Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra

By Clare Varney, 11 May 2025

As part of the Concertgebouw's ambitious Mahler Festival, Christiane Karg, Anna Lucia Richter and the Netherlands Radio Choir join the Budapest Festival Orchestra for the Resurrection Symphony.

*****

Anna Lucia Richter and Christiane Karg with Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra © Jessie Kamp

Earth-shattering Mahler 2 from the Budapest FO at the Mahler Festival

By Clare Varney

Asko|Schönberg performs Reich/Richter © Melle Meivogel (2023)

Euphoric and immersive cinematic experience: Reich/Richter in Amsterdam

By Clare Varney, 03 April 2025

British percussionist Colin Currie joins Asko|Schönberg at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ for performances of Reich/Richter, a visual and musical feast.

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Asko|Schönberg performs Reich/Richter © Melle Meivogel (2023)

Immersive cinematic experience: Reich/Richter in Amsterdam

By Clare Varney

Ariadne auf Naxos © Marco Borggreve

A strikingly colourful Ariadne auf Naxos from Nederlandse Reisopera

By Clare Varney, 01 February 2025

Juliana Zara and Annemarie Kremer lead the cast in a riotous, yet deeply touching, new production from Nederlandse Reisopera.

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Ariadne auf Naxos © Marco Borggreve

A strikingly colourful Ariadne auf Naxos from Nederlandse Reisopera

By Clare Varney

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla © Simon van Boxtel

Yearning and longing: Gražinytė-Tyla and Blechacz at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 20 January 2025

Rafał Blechacz returned to the Concertgebouw to perform Chopin’s Second Piano Concerto with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo.

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Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla © Simon van Boxtel

Yearning and longing: Gražinytė-Tyla and Blechacz at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra brass © Eduardus Lee

Vladimir Jurowski continues the Royal Concertgebouw's Bruckner celebration

By Clare Varney, 04 December 2024

Vladimir Jurowski graces his return to the Concertgebouw with a ravishing performance of Mozart's Symphony no. 40 in G minor.

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The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra brass © Eduardus Lee

Royal Concertgebouw continues its Bruckner celebration

By Clare Varney

Tarmo Peltokoski conducts the Rotterdam Philharmonic © Eduardus Lee

The real deal: Tarmo Peltokoski conducts the Rotterdam Philharmonic

By Clare Varney, 07 November 2024

Truls Mørk joins Tarmo Peltokoski and the Rotterdam Phil for a deeply emotional reading of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto no. 2.

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Tarmo Peltokoski conducts the Rotterdam Philharmonic © Eduardus Lee

The real deal: Tarmo Peltokoski conducts the Rotterdam Philharmonic

By Clare Varney

Karina Canellakis and Augustin Hadelich © Milagro Elstak

Augustin Hadelich’s Sibelius soars the heights at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 16 October 2024

Karina Canellakis makes her debut with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in a programme full of extremes.

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Karina Canellakis and Augustin Hadelich © Milagro Elstak

Augustin Hadelich’s Sibelius soars the heights at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Christian Thielemann conducts the Vienna Philharmonic © Simon van Boxtel

Vienna Phil blows away the cobwebs with a thunderous Heldenleben at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 09 September 2024

Christian Thielemann conducts bracing accounts of Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony and Strauss' Ein Heldenleben in the Concertgebouw's fabled acoustic.

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Christian Thielemann conducts the Vienna Philharmonic © Simon van Boxtel

Vienna Phil blows away the cobwebs with a thunderous Heldenleben

By Clare Varney

Alexandre Bloch © Ugo Ponte

Alexandre Bloch bids a fond farewell to the Orchestre National de Lille

By Clare Varney, 10 July 2024

After eight years, Music Director Alexandre Bloch conducts Brahms in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, with Noa Wildschut at the soloist in Bruch's First Violin Concerto.

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Alexandre Bloch © Ugo Ponte

Alexandre Bloch bids a fond farewell to Orchestre National de Lille

By Clare Varney

Ben Goldscheider © Kaupo Kikkas

Ben Goldscheider plays new Watkins concerto with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen

By Clare Varney, 08 June 2024

The French horn is the real winner in Bremen as Ben Goldscheider continues to expand the horn repertoire and bring his instrument to a wider audience.

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Ben Goldscheider © Kaupo Kikkas

Ben Goldscheider plays new Watkins concerto with DKam

By Clare Varney

Zubin Mehta © Peter Adamik

Emotionally charged: Zubin Mehta and the Staatskapelle Berlin play Bruckner 8

By Clare Varney, 29 March 2024

The Staatskapelle Berlin’s Festtage concert in the Philharmonie proves a feast for brass lovers.

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Zubin Mehta © Peter Adamik

Zubin Mehta and the Staatskapelle Berlin play Bruckner 8

By Clare Varney

Dinis Sousa © Sim Canetty-Clarke

Brahms' German Requiem brings solace to all at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 29 February 2024

The Monteverdi Choir and Dinis Sousa bring a fresh perspective to a performance of Brahms' German Requiem with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

*****

Dinis Sousa © Sim Canetty-Clarke

Brahms' German Requiem brings solace to all at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Thomas Oliemans (Papageno) and Ying Fang (Pamina) © Bart Grietens

Simon McBurney's Magic Flute makes a triumphant return to Dutch National Opera

By Clare Varney, 01 December 2023

After its Met Opera debut earlier in the year, Simon McBurney's popular staging returns to Amsterdam.

*****

Thomas Oliemans (Papageno) and Ying Fang (Pamina) © Bart Grietens

McBurney's Magic Flute makes a triumphant return to DNO

By Clare Varney

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker © Stephan Rabold

Gustavo Dudamel and the Berliner Philharmoniker raise the roof with a spellbinding Mahler 5

By Clare Varney, 20 October 2023

A glorious musical feast for the 60th birthday celebrations of Berlin's magnificent Philharmonie includes music by Boris Blacher and a world premiere by Milica Djordjević.

*****

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker © Stephan Rabold

Dudamel and the Berlin Phil raise the roof with spellbinding Mahler 5

By Clare Varney

Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Marco Borggreve (2022)

The definition of love: Mäkelä conducts Mahler 3 at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 14 September 2023

Klaus Mäkelä and Jennifer Johnston forge a meeting of minds with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

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Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Marco Borggreve (2022)

The definition of love: Mäkelä conducts Mahler 3 at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

Antony Hermus and the Belgian National Orchestra © Constance Proux

A performance of contradictions from the Belgian National Orchestra at the Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney, 25 July 2023

Antony Hermus searches for menace and intrigue in the BNO's programme in Amsterdam's Concertgebouw.

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Antony Hermus and the Belgian National Orchestra © Constance Proux

A performance of contradictions from the Belgian National Orchestra

By Clare Varney

Lang Lang, Andris Nelsons and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra © Holger Talinski | Mahler Chamber Orchestra

At the Concertgebouw, it's all about Lang Lang

By Clare Varney, 01 June 2023

No ordinary evening at the Concertgebouw, where Lang Lang’s partnership with Andris Nelsons is the perfect vehicle to examine the complexities and contrasts found in the music of Beethoven.

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Lang Lang, Andris Nelsons and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra © Holger Talinski | Mahler Chamber Orchestra

At the Concertgebouw, it's all about Lang Lang

By Clare Varney

Candida Thompson and Hülya Keser © Nick Helderman (The Hague, May 2023)

Through the looking glass: Amsterdam Sinfonietta are a class act at the Muziekgebouw

By Clare Varney, 12 May 2023

Candida Thompson’s performance of Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel with understated beauty, immaculate phrasing and restrained emotion, steals the show.

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Candida Thompson and Hülya Keser © Nick Helderman (The Hague, May 2023)

Through the looking glass: Amsterdam Sinfonietta are a class act

By Clare Varney

Kelly God (Leonore) © Marco Borggreve

Nederlandse Reisopera’s Fidelio makes opera truly accessible for all

By Clare Varney, 22 April 2023

This was opera which found expression using modern technology in a way that did not offend, intimidate or distract the audience, but rather enhanced the experience.

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Kelly God (Leonore) © Marco Borggreve

Nederlandse Reisopera’s Fidelio makes opera truly accessible for all

By Clare Varney

Riccardo Chailly conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Eduardus Lee

Chailly reigns supreme with Fujita and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

By Clare Varney, 08 March 2023

Chailly's energy and vitality is inspirational on his return to Amsterdam for an all-Rachmaninov concert.

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Riccardo Chailly conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Eduardus Lee

Chailly reigns supreme with Fujita and the Royal Concertgebouw

By Clare Varney

David Kerber (Tamino) © Marco Borggreve

Nederlandse Reisopera faces the music and produces a most memorable Zauberflöte

By Clare Varney, 20 January 2023

A top-class line-up of international soloists produce an accomplished and polished semi-staging for the company's tour.

****1

David Kerber (Tamino) © Marco Borggreve

A memorable Zauberflöte from Nederlandse Reisopera

By Clare Varney

Lahav Shani, Daniil Trifonov and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra © Eduardus Lee

Trifonov transfixes Rotterdam with nuanced, highly addictive Beethoven

By Clare Varney, 12 January 2023

Lahav Shani gives the players of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra their moment to shine in Strauss' demanding Ein Heldenleben.

****1

Lahav Shani, Daniil Trifonov and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra © Eduardus Lee

Trifonov transfixes Rotterdam with nuanced, highly addictive Beethoven

By Clare Varney

Janine Jansen © Antwerp Symphony Orchestra | Jesse Willems

Jansen dazzles Antwerp in fine Prokofiev with Pappano and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe

By Clare Varney, 03 December 2022

Janine Jansen’s exquisite reading of Prokofiev's First Violin Concerto leaves the Belgian audience on a high.

****1

Janine Jansen © Antwerp Symphony Orchestra | Jesse Willems

Jansen dazzles Antwerp in fine Prokofiev with Pappano and the COE

By Clare Varney

Daniil Trifonov © Eduardus Lee

Daniil Trifonov gives European premiere of Mason Bates' Piano Concerto

By Clare Varney, 15 October 2022

An evening of premieres – the European premiere of Bates' concerto plus the world premiere of Joey Roukens' First Symphony – delights the Rotterdam Philharmonic's Utrecht audience.

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Daniil Trifonov © Eduardus Lee

Daniil Trifonov gives European premiere of Mason Bates' Piano Concerto

By Clare Varney

Daniel Harding © Julian Hargreaves

Beauty and stillness in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra's monumental Mahler 9

By Clare Varney, 22 September 2022

In a week when the world has mourned the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Daniel Harding and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra perform a programme exploring death and the disintegration of life.

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Daniel Harding © Julian Hargreaves

Beauty and stillness in the RCO's monumental Mahler 9

By Clare Varney

Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Marco Borggreve

Mäkelä's Concertgebouw Mahler marks the dawn of a new era in Amsterdam

By Clare Varney, 19 August 2022

The hottest ticket in town, as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra's new Artistic Partner takes his place on the podium to conduct Saariaho and Mahler.

*****

Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra © Marco Borggreve

Mäkelä's Concertgebouw Mahler marks the dawn of a new era in Amsterdam

By Clare Varney

A striking, if perplexing, Midsummer Night's Dream from Opera Zuid

By Clare Varney, 24 May 2022

Ola Mafaalani's staging is a feast for the eyes with creative and edgy lighting, a clever and expressive use of colour and a stunning visual display, but not everything comes off successfully.

**111

A striking, if perplexing, Midsummer Night's Dream from Opera Zuid

By Clare Varney