Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | English | Otto Tausk

WASO's concert of contemporary music, conducted by compatriot Otto Tausk, and featuring soprano Sara Macliver, proves riveting in its unfamiliarity. 

Despite a rousing start the touring VSO produce some understated Brahms and Shostakovich at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall. 

Sex, fame, luxury and envy meet in an irresistible cocktail as the Reisopera stages the Dutch premiere of Thomas Adès’ chamber opera. 

 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.

Does opera have room for film? And live video? Multiple screens and advertorials? And allusions to onscreen identity and cyber-immortality?

The Vancouver Symphony performs with penetrating insight from Itzhak Perlman.

Evocative Smyth and impressively detailed Strauss from Tausk, and warm Dvořák with soulful playing from Daniel Müller-Schott.

Dutch violinist Simone Lamsma brings fiery intensity and technique in an otherwise lukewarm programme of Wagner, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich

The correlation between music and painting is one of the most interesting and long existing themes in the history of art.

Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition is an incredibly popular work – and with good reason. Tonight, this exciting piece was combined with works by two other Russian greats: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Festival Overture and Tchaikovksy’s Piano Concerto no. 1, played by Nikolai Lugansky.

New Year’s concerts have never been that appealing to me: I am not a great lover of Viennese waltzes and that is what most of them consist of. But fortunately this year the Holland Symfonia had a New Years concert with a twist: Russian fireworks.