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Mark Thomas

Mark Thomas

A lifelong devotee of classical music, Mark caught the bug after listening to The Planets, The Rite of Spring and Beethoven’s Fifth when he was knee-high to a grasshopper. He has degrees in non-musical subjects and currently works as a Chartered Governance Professional, but these have proved to be mere distractions from the wonders of sonatas, concertos and symphonies. He has been reviewing for Bachtrack since 2016, plays viola and violin (very shakily) and used to sing a bit (even more shakily).

Autor:Mark Thomas

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Aoi Trio (v.l.): Kyoko Ogawa (violin), Kosuke Akimoto (piano) und Yu Ito (cello) © Nikolaj Lund Photography

Auf der Sonnenseite: das Aoi Trio wandelt auf hell erleuchteten Pfaden

Von Mark Thomas, 4. Juni 2021

Wir sprechen über das Leben als Klaviertrio, Wettbewerbserfolge, die Kammermusikakademie der Suntory Hall und Zukunftspläne für Japan und Europa.

Aoi Trio (v.l.): Kyoko Ogawa (violin), Kosuke Akimoto (piano) und Yu Ito (cello) © Nikolaj Lund Photography

Das Aoi Trio wandelt auf hell erleuchteten Pfaden

Von Mark Thomas

Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Orchestre de Paris © BBC | Chris Christodoulou

Fresh and flamboyant: Klaus Mäkelä and the Orchestre de Paris at the BBC Proms

Von Mark Thomas, 3. September 2024

Klaus Mäkelä presents fresh and dynamic takes on French masterpieces from Debussy and Berlioz, the Orchestre de Paris providing colour and vigour in Stravinsky.

*****

Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Orchestre de Paris © BBC | Chris Christodoulou

Fresh and flamboyant: Mäkelä and the Orchestre de Paris at the Proms

Von Mark Thomas

Anastasia Kobekina and the Czech Philharmonic © BBC | Andy Paradise

Angelic and tragic: Czech Phil glistens in Dvořák and Suk at the BBC Proms

Von Mark Thomas, 27. August 2024

The Year of Czech Music continues at the BBC Proms with a highly-shaped Dvořák Cello Concerto from Proms debutant Anastasia Kobekina and Suk’s monster of a symphony, Asrael.

****1

Anastasia Kobekina and the Czech Philharmonic © BBC | Andy Paradise

Angelic and tragic: Czech Phil glistens in Dvořák and Suk at the Proms

Von Mark Thomas

Karina Canellakis and the London Philharmonic Orchestra © London Philharmonic Orchestra

Brahms 4 off the Richter scale from Karina Canellakis and the LPO

Von Mark Thomas, 21. Februar 2024

Canellakis and the LPO are in fighting form with Brahms’ Fourth Symphony, while Pablo Ferrández provides subtlety and sardonic bite in Shostakovich.

****1

Karina Canellakis and the London Philharmonic Orchestra © London Philharmonic Orchestra

Brahms 4 off the Richter scale from Karina Canellakis and the LPO

Von Mark Thomas

Barbara Hannigan © LSO | Mark Allan

Hannigan and LSO push all the buttons in provocative season opener

Von Mark Thomas, 14. September 2023

An enticing Barbican programme from Barbara Hannigan, seeking light out of darkness in pieces spanning three different centuries, and an electrifying vocal performance by mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron.

*****

Barbara Hannigan © LSO | Mark Allan

Hannigan and LSO push all the buttons in provocative season opener

Von Mark Thomas

Geneva Lewis, Jaime Martín and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales © BBC | Chris Christodoulou

Neglected composers and a blockbuster from Jaime Martín and BBC NOW

Von Mark Thomas, 8. August 2023

Geneva Lewis embraces the lyricism in Grace Williams’ Violin Concerto, with a rousing overture from Dora Pejačević and a robust Planets Suite from Jaime Martín and BBC NOW.

***11

Geneva Lewis, Jaime Martín and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales © BBC | Chris Christodoulou

Neglected composers and a blockbuster from Jaime Martín and BBC NOW

Von Mark Thomas

Annelien Van Wauwe and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales © BBC | Chris Christodoulou

Elegant and exhilarating all-American Prom from Ryan Bancroft and the BBC NOW

Von Mark Thomas, 31. Juli 2023

Ryan Bancroft and the BBC NOW offer scintillating playing in John Adams’ Harmonium, plus an exciting world premiere from Derrick Skye and a stunning Copland concerto with clarinettist Annelien Van Wauwe.

****1

Annelien Van Wauwe and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales © BBC | Chris Christodoulou

An exhilarating all-American Prom from Ryan Bancroft and BBC NOW

Von Mark Thomas

Kristian Bezuidenhout © Marco Borggreve

Top Mozart from Kristian Bezuidenhout and The English Concert

Von Mark Thomas, 7. Juni 2023

A scintillating account of an all-Mozart programme at St Martin-in-the-Fields with a mighty concerto, a mightier symphony and one of his more unusual overtures.

*****

Kristian Bezuidenhout © Marco Borggreve

Top Mozart from Kristian Bezuidenhout and The English Concert

Von Mark Thomas

James Fountain, Ryan Wigglesworth and the London Symphony Orchestra © LSO | Mark Allan

A heartening journey: a sensuous fix from Wigglesworth and the LSO

Von Mark Thomas, 2. Februar 2023

Ryan Wigglesworth steps into the breach with relish and authority in this journey through the senses, pitting Hummel against Tchaikovsky, plus a UK premiere from Nokuthula Ngwenyama.

***11

James Fountain, Ryan Wigglesworth and the London Symphony Orchestra © LSO | Mark Allan

A heartening journey: a sensuous fix from Wigglesworth and the LSO

Von Mark Thomas

Russian sparkle from Osmo Vänskä and the Seoul Philharmonic at Cadogan Hall

Von Mark Thomas, 27. Oktober 2022

Two high-octane Russian favourites and an eight-minute microcosm of musical history give much to enjoy as the Seoul Philharmonic makes its first visit to London for eight years.

***11

Russian sparkle from Vänskä and the Seoul Philharmonic

Von Mark Thomas

Awesome sweep and power from Hannu Lintu and LPO in Nielsen, Dean and Mahler

Von Mark Thomas, 9. Februar 2022

A fuel-filled programme from the London Philharmonic under Hannu Lintu in Nielsen and Mahler, while Lawrence Power exudes contemporary flair in Brett Dean’s Viola Concerto.

****1

Awesome sweep and power from Hannu Lintu and LPO

Von Mark Thomas

Stikhina and Kowaljow cut deep in Shostakovich with Noseda and the LSO

Von Mark Thomas, 3. Februar 2022

Elena Stikhina and Vitalij Kowaljow provided an extra touch of class in Shostakovich’s sombre but moving Fourteenth Symphony, with Noseda and the LSO running riot in Beethoven’s Seventh.

*****

Stikhina and Kowaljow cut deep in Shostakovich with Noseda and the LSO

Von Mark Thomas

Anna Prohaska ignites Ludwigsburg with Veronika Eberle, Alisa Weilerstein and Idoo Bar-Shaï

Von Mark Thomas, 23. Juni 2021

This enticing ensemble of soprano and piano trio evoked, delighted and expressed with heightened intensity in less well-known repertoire, including from some big names.

*****

Prohaska ignites Ludwigsburg with Eberle, Weilerstein and Bar-Shaï

Von Mark Thomas

Punch and passion from Gürzenich Orchester Köln

Von Mark Thomas, 13. April 2021

An exciting, though brief, world premiere and Schubert’s turbulent Fourth Symphony were given impressive readings by the Gürzenich Orchestra under Michael Sanderling, with Raphaela Gromes sensitive and passionate in Schumann.

****1

Punch and passion from Gürzenich Orchester Köln

Von Mark Thomas

Serenade and sorrow from the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Arcayürek and Klieser

Von Mark Thomas, 25. März 2021

The impressive Amsterdam Sinfonietta showed lucidity and depth in Britten and Shostakovich, with tenor Ilker Arcayürek and horn player Felix Klieser adding much to the quality.

****1

Serenade and sorrow from Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Arcayürek and Klieser

Von Mark Thomas

Impetuous and impassioned Romantics from Hough, Gardiner and the BSO

Von Mark Thomas, 24. Februar 2021

Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Stephen Hough and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra provide oodles of vibrancy and passion in Schumann and Brahms.

****1

Impetuous and impassioned Romantics from Hough, Gardiner and the BSO

Von Mark Thomas

No illusions: Andris Nelsons and Boston Symphony return as clear as crystal

Von Mark Thomas, 11. Februar 2021

As if they’d never been apart, Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra pick up where they left off a year ago, with a vibrant Eroica and two mesmerising contemporary pieces.

*****

No illusions: Andris Nelsons and BSO return as clear as crystal

Von Mark Thomas

Exciting departure from the mainstream by Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Von Mark Thomas, 28. Januar 2021

Maxim Emelyanychev gave individual string players from the SCO more airtime and more of a “chamber” feel to an intriguing programme of Baroque, Classical and Romantic works.

***11

Exciting departure from the mainstream by Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Von Mark Thomas

Rouvali and the Philharmonia glisten like quartz in American smorgasbord

Von Mark Thomas, 26. Oktober 2020

A slightly left-field American-themed programme gave Santtu-Matias Rouvali scope to explore, and excel, in the Philharmonia’s exciting return to the Royal Festival Hall.

*****

Rouvali and Philharmonia glisten like quartz in American smorgasbord

Von Mark Thomas

Colour and dynamism in abundance from the LPO and John Storgårds

Von Mark Thomas, 14. Oktober 2020

John Storgårds and the London Philharmonic Orchestra couple Julian Anderson’s evocative Van Gogh Blue with an exhilarating Beethoven’s Seventh, while Simone Lamsma is dynamic and expansive in Nielsen.

****1

Colour and dynamism in abundance from the LPO and John Storgårds

Von Mark Thomas

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is back with a bang in a gold-plated season opener

Von Mark Thomas, 30. September 2020

David Hill took the helm as the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra opened its account with arrangements of Bach and Mahler, an Ives masterpiece and an ebullient Beethoven 7.

****1

BSO is back with a bang in a gold-plated season opener

Von Mark Thomas

Lithe spirit from London Mozart Players in Prokofiev and Schumann

Von Mark Thomas, 24. September 2020

The London Mozart Players produce effervescence in Prokofiev while cellist Maciej Kulakowski shines in a clean and expressive Schumann Cello Concerto.

****1

Lithe spirit from London Mozart Players in Prokofiev and Schumann

Von Mark Thomas

Up and running: passion and grandeur from the Philharmonia

Von Mark Thomas, 16. Juli 2020

A welcome return from the Philharmonia saw John Wilson exercising his passion for English music in a Vaughan Williams masterpiece and an impressive Sheku Kanneh-Mason in Saint-Saëns.

****1

Up and running: passion and grandeur from the Philharmonia

Von Mark Thomas

Music for our times: contemporary with a touch of intimacy at the Pierre Boulez Saal

Von Mark Thomas, 10. Juli 2020

Daniel Barenboim, Emmanuel Pahud and select musicians continue their brief odyssey into new music with three striking and stimulating world premieres and a welcome touch of Boulez.

****1

Contemporary with a touch of intimacy at the Pierre Boulez Saal

Von Mark Thomas

A sense of wonder: Levit and Becker reveal plenty in Beethoven, Brahms and Bartók

Von Mark Thomas, 19. Februar 2020

An intriguing programme and incisive playing from Igor Levit and Markus Becker as they examine Beethoven and Brahms from a fresh angle, and exceptional Bartók.

****1

A sense of wonder: Levit and Becker

Von Mark Thomas

A shimmering kaleidoscope of sonority from the Orchestre National de Lille

Von Mark Thomas, 29. Januar 2020

Clarity and colour from Alexandre Bloch and the Orchestre National de Lille in Debussy and Ravel, with an elegant and majestic Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto from Eric Lu.

****1

A shimmering kaleidoscope of sonority from the ONL

Von Mark Thomas

Intoxicating Gautier Capuçon and Yuja Wang in Franck and Chopin

Von Mark Thomas, 13. Januar 2020

A delicious programme from glamour duo Gautier Capuçon and Yuja Wang, reuniting in Franck and Chopin with dynamism and depth – and a killer encore.

*****

Intoxicating Gautier Capuçon and Yuja Wang in Franck and Chopin

Von Mark Thomas

Crisp and even: Zehetmair ruminative in Beethoven with Herreweghe and the Philharmonia

Von Mark Thomas, 21. November 2019

Philippe Herreweghe reveals a crisp and precise Philharmonia in Schubert’s Fifth Symphony as Thomas Zehetmair provides reflection and breadth in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.

***11

Crisp and even: Zehetmair ruminative in Beethoven

Von Mark Thomas

Radiance and dazzle from Xavier de Maistre’s angelic harp and the LPO

Von Mark Thomas, 6. November 2019

A dynamic and dreamy concoction from the London Philharmonic under Lawrence Renes, with impeccable performances from harp virtuoso Xavier de Maistre and LPO Principal Flute Juliette Bausor.

****1

Radiance and dazzle from Xavier de Maistre’s angelic harp

Von Mark Thomas

Emotional sinews stretched in Czech masterpieces with Gardiner and the LSO

Von Mark Thomas, 24. Oktober 2019

Truls Mørk was cultured and intense in Dvořák’s Cello Concerto while Sir John Eliot Gardiner took the LSO through its paces in Suk’s emotional beast of a symphony.

***11

Emotional sinews stretched with Gardiner and the LSO

Von Mark Thomas

Tognetti releases the inner impulses of Bach with the Australian Chamber Orchestra

Von Mark Thomas, 3. Oktober 2019

Richard Tognetti’s absorbing programme mixed Bach’s Goldberg Variations with Stravinsky and Adès, played impressively and with characteristic exuberance and finesse by the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

****1

Tognetti releases the inner impulses of Bach

Von Mark Thomas

Prom 69: searing Shostakovich from Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic

Von Mark Thomas, 10. September 2019

Semyon Bychkov produces a gripping and soul-searching Shostakovich Eighth while soprano Elena Stikhina makes an impressive UK debut in Tchaikovsky.

*****

Searing Shostakovich from Bychkov and the Czech Phil

Von Mark Thomas

Prom 60: solid-gold music-making as Bernard Haitink makes his UK farewell

Von Mark Thomas, 3. September 2019

An emotional night in London as Bernard Haitink says farewell to London with grand and searching performances of Bruckner and Beethoven, with the distinguished Emanuel Ax in tow.

*****

Solid-gold music-making as Haitink makes his UK farewell

Von Mark Thomas

Prom 34: Bluster and conviction from Argerich and Barenboim with West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Von Mark Thomas, 12. August 2019

There was vibrancy and subtlety in these cultured performances of Schubert and Lutosławski, with Martha Argerich still showing how it’s done with ‘that’ Tchaikovsky concerto.

****1

Bluster and conviction from Argerich and Barenboim

Von Mark Thomas

Prom 7: Omer Meir Wellber moves through the gears with BBC Philharmonic

Von Mark Thomas, 23. Juli 2019

Wellber may have lots planned for the BBC Philharmonic over the coming years, but this exciting programme showed that he didn’t want to waste any time delivering.

***11

Prom 7: Wellber moves through the gears with BBC Phil

Von Mark Thomas

“Remember me!” Norrington and LPO provide emotion and insight in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas

Von Mark Thomas, 30. Januar 2019

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.

*****

Norrington and LPO provide emotion and insight in Dido and Aeneas

Von Mark Thomas

Elegant and energetic: pacy Tchaikovsky from Long Yu and the Philharmonia

Von Mark Thomas, 29. November 2018

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.

***11

Pacy Tchaikovsky from Long Yu and the Philharmonia

Von Mark Thomas

Hrůša’s Slavic canvas and the mystery of Kabeláč

Von Mark Thomas, 22. November 2018

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.

****1

Hrůša’s Slavic canvas and the mystery of Kabeláč

Von Mark Thomas

Prom 44: Lili Boulanger steals the show in Morlot’s opalescent French tableau

Von Mark Thomas, 15. August 2018

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.

****1

Prom 44: Lili Boulanger steals the show

Von Mark Thomas

Prom 34: Mena bids farewell to BBC Philharmonic in dynamic Anglo-American programme

Von Mark Thomas, 8. August 2018

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.

****1

Prom 34: Juanjo Mena bids farewell to BBC Philharmonic

Von Mark Thomas

Prom 25: Miloš Karadaglić creates mystery and atmosphere in Joby Talbot’s new concerto

Von Mark Thomas, 2. August 2018

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.

***11

Intoxicating moods at the Proms

Von Mark Thomas

Angelic voices in the Swiss mountains: Classy Kavakos and serene Ying Fang join Eschenbach

Von Mark Thomas, 23. Juli 2018

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.

****1

Angelic voices in the Swiss mountains

Von Mark Thomas

Seong-Jin Cho shows maturity and subtlety in Verbier recital

Von Mark Thomas, 23. Juli 2018

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.

****1

Seong-Jin Cho shows maturity and subtlety in Verbier recital

Von Mark Thomas

Ilya Gringolts and Maxim Vengerov reach the heights in Verbier

Von Mark Thomas, 22. Juli 2018

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.

*****

Gringolts and Vengerov reach the heights in Verbier

Von Mark Thomas

Subtlety and gravity: Paul Lewis delves deep in mature Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms

Von Mark Thomas, 5. Juni 2018

Paul Lewis continued his enlightening exploration of Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms with performances of delicacy, steel and depth, where quality ruled over quantity.

****1

Subtlety and gravity: Paul Lewis delves deep

Von Mark Thomas

Elegant guise from Arabella Steinbacher as Dresden Philharmonic takes on Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich

Von Mark Thomas, 22. Mai 2018

A polished Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto from Arabella Steinbacher preceded a forceful Shostakovich 5 from Michael Sanderling as the Dresden Philharmonic continue their UK tour.

****1

Elegant guise from Arabella Steinbacher with Dresden Philharmonic

Von Mark Thomas

A vibrant Mediterranean tableau from Daniele Rustioni and Avi Avital

Von Mark Thomas, 9. Mai 2018

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.

****1

A vibrant Mediterranean tableau from the BBCSO

Von Mark Thomas

Barry Douglas majestic with below par Czech National Symphony Orchestra

Von Mark Thomas, 18. April 2018

An imperious Barry Douglas provided a magisterial Emperor Concerto in an otherwise disappointing concert from the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

**111

Barry Douglas majestic with below par Czech NSO

Von Mark Thomas

Stravinsky’s Perséphone brought to life by Adès and Barry

Von Mark Thomas, 11. April 2018

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.

****1

Stravinsky’s Perséphone brought to life by Adès and Barry

Von Mark Thomas

Misty evocations and raw passion from Stephen Hough

Von Mark Thomas, 5. April 2018

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”.

*****

Misty evocations and raw passion from Stephen Hough

Von Mark Thomas