Mark is a Chartered Secretary with a background in financial services and corporate administration. He currently works as a company secretary and has a Bachelor's degree in financial services and a Master's degree in finance and administration. His passion and enthusiasm for classical music started at an early age, with an initial keen interest in orchestral and chamber music which has since expanded to cover most genres across all periods. He plays viola and violin, and used to sing a little.
Sir Roger Norrington and a strong cast joined a Baroque-style London Philharmonic Orchestra in a highly accomplished Dido and Aeneas, preceded by Handel’s clean and stately Water Music.
Long Yu certainly didn’t rest on his laurels as he powered through Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, while Jian Wang introduced subtlety and deftness in the Rococo Variations.
Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances were a treat and Simon Trpčeski was characteristically glistening in Shostakovich, but the surprise package turned out to be a rarely heard work by Kabeláč.
Colour and light from Ludovic Morlot and the CBSO in Debussy and Ravel, but it was the power and depth of Lili Boulanger’s Psalm 130 that shone the brightest.
An intriguing programme of Britten, Walton, Barber and Copland provided dynamism, evocative imagery and new discoveries in Juanjo Mena’s valedictory concert with the BBC Philharmonic.
Miloš Karadaglić provides atmosphere and virtuosity in Joby Talbot’s newest work, while Alexander Vedernikov and the BBC Symphony Orchestra give Russian flourishes in Glinka and Tchaikovsky.
Classy performances from Leonidas Kavakos and Ying Fang, joining Christoph Eschenbach and the Verbier Festival Orchestra in a polished Berg Violin Concerto and a sublime Mahler 4.
In a passionate and evocative programme, South Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho shows that his interpretive skills can start to blossom beyond mere technical prowess.
Ilya Gringolts and Maxim Vengerov gave world-class performances of landmark pieces by Bach and Bartók, with a generous sprinkling of Prokofiev and Wieniawski giving extra sparkle.
Paul Lewis continued his enlightening exploration of Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms with performances of delicacy, steel and depth, where quality ruled over quantity.
A polished Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto from Arabella Steinbacher preceded a forceful Shostakovich 5 from Michael Sanderling as the Dresden Philharmonic continue their UK tour.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra was on tip-top form, with the buoyant Daniele Rustioni and mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital conjuring up a fresco of genuine Mediterranean delights.
Glistening performances by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and combined forces under Thomas Adès bring to life Stravinsky’s Perséphone, with fiery premières of works by Adès himself and Gerald Barry.
Shimmering images from Debussy in his evocative Images had Stephen Hough oozing luminescence, with passion in Schumann and firing on all cylinders in Beethoven’s “Appassionata”.
With plenty of sparkle and spritz, Pollini laces his performances of Schumann and Chopin with intimacy and introspection in a programme of contrasting emotions.
Alexander Shelley curated a hot-blooded programme of adventure and imagery with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with Susanne Hou showing extraordinary technique and class in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.
There was depth and intensity from Steven Isserlis and Alexander Melnikov in this intriguing programme of Russian cello sonatas from old hands and new brooms.
A stirring account of Elgar’s First Symphony from Sir Mark Elder and the LSO, with a rare outing given to Janáček’s last orchestral work and Francesco Piemontesi polished in Bartók.
Ukrainian pianist Anna Fedorova gave compelling performances of Chopin’s profound Ballades and intricate Waltzes, full of intensity, dreaminess and frenzy.
