Sala: De Doelen, Rotterdam

Late Brahms, early Schoenberg: under Lahav Shani and the Rotterdam Philharmonic draw tenderness from two monumental scores. 

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

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

Musical connections between Brahms, Dvořák and Price as Randall Goosby joins the Rotterdam Philharmonic – both as soloist and orchestral member. 

Die Klaviervirtuosin und der junge finnische Dirigentin werden den hohen Erwartungen des Abends leider nicht gerecht.

Soaring choral music precedes the arrival of Martha Argerich for a daredevil account of Shostakovich's First Piano Concerto with RPhO Principal Trumpet, Alex Elia. 

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

Whether one considers Messiah to be really appropriate for Christmas, it always a welcome gift for the Handel aficionado, and this performance from Rotterdam, while suffering some unfortunate cuts, is an otherwise solid musical offering.