Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Symphony no. 2 in C major, Op.61

Stylish Haydn, flinty Schumann from Shiyeon Sung, Zlatomir Fung and the RPO

By Alexander Hall, 21 February 2024

A young cellist impresses in Haydn's C major concerto, but the same key in Schumann's Second Symphony exposes weaknesses in the conductor's approach.

**111

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**111

London

21 Feb 2024

Stylish Haydn, flinty Schumann from the RPO

By Alexander Hall

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Rejoicing spirits: a compelling new Magnificat by Ryan Wigglesworth

By Peter Quantrill, 15 December 2023

A concert journey from Ariadne's despair to Schumann's elation, and a compelling demonstration of Wigglesworth's gifts as both composer and conductor.

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London

15 Dec 2023

Rejoicing spirits: a compelling new Magnificat by Ryan Wigglesworth

By Peter Quantrill

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Prague

Kožená entrances the Rudolfinum with Martinů miniatures

By David Karlin, 25 February 2023

Magdalena Kožená provides a compelling case for two little-heard Martinů song cycles; Rattle and the Czech Phil are competent but not altogether convincing in Schumann.

****1

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Prague

25 Feb 2023

Kožená entrances the Rudolfinum with Martinů miniatures

By David Karlin

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A moving tribute to Lars Vogt by the Orchestre de chambre de Paris

By Alain Lompech, 04 October 2022

Embraced by Daniel Harding, Ian Bostridge, Christian Tetzlaff, Alban Gerhardt and Paul Lewis, the Parisian ensemble gives an exceptional concert, faithful to Lars Vogt’s way of making music.

*****

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*****

Paris

04 Oct 2022

A moving tribute to Lars Vogt by the Orchestre de chambre de Paris

By Alain Lompech

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Liverpool

Yoncheva rocks Liverpool with rare Martucci

By Mark Pullinger, 15 May 2022

Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva makes a superb Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra debut with Giuseppe Martucci's La canzone dei ricordi (The Song of Remembrance).

****1

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Liverpool

15 May 2022

Yoncheva rocks Liverpool with rare Martucci

By Mark Pullinger

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New York City

Dudamel and New York Philharmonic give Schumann symphonies momentum

By David Wolfson, 09 March 2022

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the New York Philharmonic in a program of Robert Schumann’s symphonies that was notable for drive and energy, plus a Gabriela Ortiz premiere honoring Clara Schumann.

****1

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New York City

09 Mar 2022

Dudamel and New York Philharmonic give Schumann symphonies momentum

By David Wolfson

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Reinventing the Romantics: Antonello Manacorda, Isabelle Faust and the OAE

By Alexander Hall, 15 February 2022

Not all expectations were fulfilled in this concert by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Isabelle Faust made a strong case for Schumann's Violin Concerto, whereas Antonello Manacorda adopted a paint-stripping approach to both overture and symphony.

**111

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**111

London

15 Feb 2022

Reinventing the Romantics: Manacorda, Faust and the OAE

By Alexander Hall

Transparent, alert Mozart from Vikingur Ólafsson at the Konzerthaus Berlin

By Zenaida des Aubris, 10 September 2021

Pablo Heras-Casado a programme featuring a classic combination of Mozart and Schumann.

****1

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Berlin

10 Sep 2021

Transparent, alert Mozart from Vikingur Ólafsson in Berlin

By Zenaida des Aubris

Verbier

A battle of the concertos at the Verbier Festival

By Alexander Hall, 27 July 2021

Age sometimes brings compensations: Mischa Maisky's total commitment to the Schumann concerto left Daniel Lozakovich out in the cold with Brahms. Meanwhile Klaus Mäkelä with the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra reins back Romantic feeling in Schumann's Second Symphony.

****1

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Verbier

27 Jul 2021

A battle of the concertos at the Verbier Festival

By Alexander Hall

Passion and joy from Lars Vogt and Orchestre de chambre de Paris

By Chris Garlick, 26 April 2021

An all-Schumann programme at the Philharmonie de Paris, pairing the Second Symphony with his popular Piano Concerto.

****1

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Paris

26 Apr 2021

Passion and joy from Lars Vogt and Orchestre de chambre de Paris

By Chris Garlick

Amsterdam

Sometimes it's simply all right on the night: the Royal Concertgebouw, Pappano and Levit

By Alexander Hall, 18 March 2021

Sir Antonio Pappano inspires the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to playing of rare distinction in Schumann and Igor Levit again demonstrates why he is a front-rank artist in Beethoven.

*****

*****

Amsterdam

18 Mar 2021

Sometimes it's simply all right on the night: the RCO and Pappano

By Alexander Hall

Bamberg

Daniel Harding and the Bamberg Symphony give Schumann his due

By Cameron Kelsall, 04 March 2021

Despite extraordinary legato singing and transparent text work, Christian Gerharer offered an oddly mannered interpretation of the Rückert-Lieder.

***11

***11

Bamberg

04 Mar 2021

Daniel Harding and the Bamberg Symphony give Schumann his due

By Cameron Kelsall

Washington

Tetzlaff redefines clarity with the National Symphony Orchestra

By Sydney Boyd, 24 January 2020

Christian Tetzlaff proves once again why audiences can’t get enough of his sound in a program of Dvořák and Schumann with Christoph Eschenbach at the helm.

****1

****1

Washington

24 Jan 2020

Tetzlaff redefines clarity with the National Symphony Orchestra

By Sydney Boyd

Lenox

François-Xavier Roth makes an impressive Tanglewood debut

By Edward Sava-Segal, 17 August 2019

Kirill Gerstein’s interpretation of Brahms' Second Piano Concerto appeared as a true homage to the great Romanian pianist Radu Lupu.

****1

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Lenox

17 Aug 2019

François-Xavier Roth makes an impressive Tanglewood debut

By Edward Sava-Segal

Master craftsmen: Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic perform Lachenmann's My Melodies

By Sam Johnstone, 23 March 2019

The most recent work by the elder statesman of contemporary music in Germany is given a performance in Berlin's Philharmonie.

*****

*****

Berlin

23 Mar 2019

Master craftsmen: Lachenmann's My Melodies

By Sam Johnstone

Edinburgh

Gustavo Gimeno makes an uneven debut in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson, 10 May 2018

Renaud Capuçon's Mendelssohn and a strong Schumann 2 make up for a rocky start in Edinburgh.

***11

***11

Edinburgh

10 May 2018

Gustavo Gimeno makes an uneven debut in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson

Minneapolis

Minnesota Orchestra reacquaint with old friends in Minneapolis

By Phillip Nones, 13 April 2018

In Minneapolis, Markus Stenz and Louis Lortie present time-honored Austro-German symphonic masterpieces in committed and compelling performances.

****1

****1

Minneapolis

13 Apr 2018

Minnesota Orchestra reacquaint with old friends in Minneapolis

By Phillip Nones

Gardiner and LSO make a welcome return with Schumann concerto

By Young-Jin Hur, 15 March 2018

The replication of the weekend’s triumph was cut short by a somewhat dimly executed Fourth Symphony, as violinist Faust stole the show.

****1

****1

London

15 Mar 2018

Gardiner and LSO make a welcome return

By Young-Jin Hur

Spellbinding Schumann and Berlioz from Gardiner and the LSO at the Barbican

By Young-Jin Hur, 11 March 2018

With Gardiner’s eye for detail, the LSO triumph in a concert that marks the start of a new Schumann symphony cycle.

*****

*****

London

11 Mar 2018

Spellbinding Schumann from Gardiner and the LSO

By Young-Jin Hur

Prom 3: Haitink shows classical restraint in Mozart and Schumann

By Alexander Hall, 16 July 2017

Conducting the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and accompanying Isabelle Faust in Mozart's G major concerto, Bernard Haitink stresses classical proportions in two symphonies by Mozart and Schumann.

***11

***11

London

16 Jul 2017

Haitink shows classical restraint in Mozart and Schumann

By Alexander Hall

Bel canto Schumann unzipped by Enrique Mazzola and the Philharmonia

By Chris Garlick, 08 June 2017

In the absence of an indisposed Christoph von Dohnányi, Enrique Mazzola impressed in a perfectly formed programme with the Philharmonia.

****1

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London

08 Jun 2017

Bel canto Schumann unzipped by Enrique Mazzola and the Philharmonia

By Chris Garlick

New York City

Leonidas Kavakos wields bow and baton in New York

By Edward Sava-Segal, 20 October 2016

Leonidas Kavakos, the 2016-2017 New York Philharmonic season Artist-in-Residence conducts the ensemble in an ecclectic program.

***11

***11

New York City

20 Oct 2016

Kavakos wields bow and baton in New York

By Edward Sava-Segal

Zurich

Ammann, Bartók and Schumann: three stars under Stenz at the Tonhalle

By Sarah Batschelet, 11 May 2016

Markus Stenz recently conducted a triple bill of thrilling works by Dieter Ammann, Béla Bartók and Robert Schumann at the Tonhalle in Zurich. The Ammann was a world premier.

****1

****1

Zurich

11 May 2016

Three stars under Stenz at the Tonhalle

By Sarah Batschelet

San Francisco

Captivating Copland and superb Schumann from Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony

By Mayumi Wardrop, 31 March 2016

Provocative and abstract Copland paired with resolute Schumann proved to be a tastefully refreshing combination; especially when coupled with the seasoned chemistry of MTT and the SFS.

****1

****1

San Francisco

31 Mar 2016

Captivating Copland and superb Schumann from MTT

By Mayumi Wardrop

Amsterdam

Tragic undertones and optimistic spirit in Haitink's Schumann programme in Amsterdam

By Olga de Kort, 15 November 2015

A memorable programme of Schumann from Bernard Haitink and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

15 Nov 2015

Tragic undertones and optimistic spirit

By Olga de Kort

Sydney

Romantic masterworks of good friends and billiard partners: Schumann and Mendelssohn in Sydney

By Zoltán Szabó, 11 February 2015

The 2015 Master Series of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra opened with a programme of Schumann and Mendelssohn put together with excellent taste and scholarly insight.

****1

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Sydney

11 Feb 2015

Schumann and Mendelssohn in Sydney

By Zoltán Szabó

Poole

Joy and Triumph from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Kirill Karabits in Poole

By Phil Smith, 28 January 2015

It may have been an absolutely freezing night in Poole but the BSO treated us to a heart-warming evening of life-affirming music, world-class music-making.

****1

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Poole

28 Jan 2015

Joy and Triumph from the BSO in Poole

By Phil Smith

The Berlin Philharmonic's Schumann/Brahms Cycle part 2: not flawless, but finished strongly

By David Larkin, 24 September 2014

The Berlin Philharmonic showed signs of fatigue after a busy schedule, but a slightly lack-lustre rendition of Schumann's Symphony no. 2 is compensated for with a strong rendition of Brahms's Symphony no. 2 under Sir Simon Rattle.

****1

****1

Berlin

24 Sep 2014

A reasonable rendition from Rattle and the Berlin Phil

By David Larkin

The shape of things to come? Simon Rattle conducts the LSO

By Jack Johnson, 01 June 2014

With speculation rife as to whether Sir Simon Rattle will become principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra upon departing from the Berlin Philharmonic, this electrifying concert provided a tantalising glimpse of what the future might have in store.

*****

*****

London

01 Jun 2014

Rattle conducts LSO: Glimpse into the future?

By Jack Johnson

Cleveland

Christoph von Dohnányi: A triumphant return to Cleveland

By Timothy Robson, 27 March 2014

The Cleveland Orchestra's former Music Director, Christoph von Dohnányi, returned to lead radiant performances of two of Schumann's symphonies.

*****

*****

Cleveland

27 Mar 2014

Christoph von Dohnányi: A triumphant return to Cleveland

By Timothy Robson

Oslo

The Oslo Philharmonic plays Grieg, Mahler and Schumann

By Aksel Tollåli, 17 October 2013

There seemed to be an air of general disinterest surrounding the Oslo Philharmonic last Thursday. They were playing what on paper seemed like a fairly interesting programme, Grieg’s rarely heard orchestration of his Lyric Pieces, Mahler’s devastating Kindertotenlieder and Schumann’s triumphant Symphony no. 2, and yet it somehow didn’t seem like it was of much of interest to the orchestra.

**111

**111

Oslo

17 Oct 2013

The Oslo Philharmonic plays Grieg, Mahler and Schumann

By Aksel Tollåli

Prom 23: Daniel Harding and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra celebrate C major

By Nahoko Gotoh, 30 July 2013

After all that tonal instability in last week’s Wagner marathon at the Proms, Daniel Harding and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra’s programme celebrating C major came as a breath of fresh air. The Royal Albert Hall had cooled down a bit too.

****1

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London

30 Jul 2013

Prom 23: Daniel Harding and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra celebrate C major

By Nahoko Gotoh

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La Coruña

Markus Stenz y la Sinfónica de Galicia: una fusión memorable

By Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro, 17 January 2025

Markus Stenz subió al podio del Palacio de la Ópera para demostrar una vez más la buena conexión que mantiene con la Sinfónica de Galicia y ofrecer un programa lleno de maestría.

****1

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La Coruña

17 Jan 2025

Markus Stenz y la Sinfónica de Galicia: una fusión memorable

By Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro

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L'art du programme selon Klaus Mäkelä à la Philharmonie de Paris

By Alain Lompech, 15 November 2023

Au côté de la fusée Kantorow, le chef finlandais se montre un accompagnateur exemplaire dans le Concerto n° 5 de Saint-Saëns, avant de faire parler son sens de la programmation après l'entracte.

****1

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Paris

15 Nov 2023

L'art du programme selon Klaus Mäkelä à la Philharmonie de Paris

By Alain Lompech

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Une intégrale Schumann à marquer d’une pierre blanche, par Daniele Gatti et l’Orchestre National de France

By Jean-Pierre Rousseau, 01 February 2023

L'ancien directeur musical de l'Orchestre National de France retrouvait la Maison de la radio et de la musique pour une intégrale des symphonies de Robert Schumann qui fera date.

*****

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*****

Paris

01 Feb 2023

La prodigieuse intégrale Schumann de Daniele Gatti avec le National

By Jean-Pierre Rousseau

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La Coruña

Fabuloso Stefan Jackiw en su regreso a la Sinfónica de Galicia

By Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro, 13 January 2023

Un sonido de presencia rotunda del violín de Stefan Jackiw inundó el Palacio de la Ópera con un brillante concierto de Sibelius.

****1

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La Coruña

13 Jan 2023

Fabuloso Stefan Jackiw en su regreso a la Sinfónica de Galicia

By Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro

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Monte-Carlo

Jesko Sirvend et Henri Christofer Aavik : top chefs au Concours Svetlanov

By Tristan Labouret, 05 June 2022

Des quatre finalistes rescapés des 330 candidatures initiales, le chef allemand et son confrère estonien ont été les plus convaincants – mais l'un d'eux méritait sans doute le Premier Prix, qui n'a pas été attribué...

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Monte-Carlo

05 Jun 2022

Jesko Sirvend et Henri Christofer Aavik lauréats du Concours Svetlanov

By Tristan Labouret

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Plasencia

La Orquesta de Extremadura dirigida por García Calvo brilla en “Luces y sombras”

By Andrea Lorenzo Lancho, 11 March 2022

La Orquesta de Extremadura, junto a la dirección de García Calvo, nos adentra en un creciente viaje emocional alcanzando riqueza sonora, a través del cristalino control orquestal.

****1

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Plasencia

11 Mar 2022

La Orquesta de Extremadura brilla en “Luces y sombras”

By Andrea Lorenzo Lancho

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Madrid

Tinieblas y consolación: las afinidades electivas de Berg y Schumann de la mano de Afkham y Tetzlaff

By Leonardo Mattana Ereño, 20 November 2021

El violinista Christian Tetzlaff interpretó el poderoso concierto de Alban Berg junto a David Afkham en la dirección.

****1

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Madrid

20 Nov 2021

Tinieblas y consolación: las afinidades electivas de Berg y Schumann

By Leonardo Mattana Ereño

Dreimal Schumann mit Daniel Barenboim, Martha Argerich und der Staatskapelle Berlin

By Sebastian Urmoneit, 08 September 2021

Das Schumann-Programm des Musikfests Berlin wird zu einer wahren Sternstunde.

*****

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Berlin

08 Sep 2021

Dreimal Schumann mit Daniel Barenboim und Martha Argerich in Berlin

By Sebastian Urmoneit

La Coruña

Por caminos inexplorados: exaltación sinfónica con James Conlon

By Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro, 19 March 2021

James Conlon, a frente de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia ofreció una reveladora lectura de las Segundas sinfonías de Schumann y Brahms.

****1

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La Coruña

19 Mar 2021

Por caminos inexplorados: exaltación sinfónica con James Conlon

By Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

La Sinfónica de Tenerife y Veronika Eberle ofrecen un triunfal Schumann

By Francisco Martínez Ramos, 14 February 2020

La Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife y su titular Antonio Méndez prosiguen su excelente ciclo dedicado a Robert Schumann con el concierto titulado “Schumann II”, para el que contaron en esta ocasión con la solista Veronika Eberle.

****1

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Santa Cruz de Tenerife

14 Feb 2020

Veronika Eberle ofrece un triunfal Schumann

By Francisco Martínez Ramos

Lyon

Du, par et pour le public : le Philharmonique de Radio France à Lyon

By Augustin Javel, 12 December 2019

Ambiance particulière à l'Auditorium de Lyon où en plein conflit social à Radio France s'est tenu un concert de l'Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France avec Philippe Herreweghe.

****1

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Lyon

12 Dec 2019

Du, par et pour le public : le Philharmonique de Radio France à Lyon

By Augustin Javel

Martha Argerich et Antonio Pappano sous les auspices de sainte Cécile à la Philharmonie

By Alain Lompech, 04 November 2019

Triomphe pour Martha Argerich dans le Concerto n° 1 de Liszt. L'Orchestre de l'Académie nationale de Sainte-Cécile livre une leçon d'orchestre sous la direction d'Antonio Pappano.

****1

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Paris

04 Nov 2019

Martha Argerich et Antonio Pappano sous les auspices de sainte Cécile

By Alain Lompech

Geneva

Marek Janowski transcende l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

By Thomas Muller, 15 May 2019

Marek Janowski revient à Genève pour diriger deux symphonies de Schumann, portant au sommet un Orchestre de la Suisse Romande qui donne le meilleur de lui-même.

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Geneva

15 May 2019

Marek Janowski transcende l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

By Thomas Muller

Munich

Tradition verpflichtet: Andris Nelsons und das Gewandhausorchester Leipzig in München

By David Renke, 26 January 2019

Die große Tradition des Orchesters wird mit Werken von Schumann und Mendelssohn in frischer Aufmachung deutlich.

***11

***11

Munich

26 Jan 2019

Tradition verpflichtet: Andris Nelsons und das Gewandhausorchester

By David Renke