Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Semyon Bychkov

Heritage and heart: Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic return to Carnegie Hall

By Edward Sava-Segal, 04 December 2024

Gil Shaham’s masterful artistry and amber tone illuminate Dvořák’s Violin Concerto, which masterfully fuses German Romanticism with Czech folk traditions.

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New York City

04 Dec 2024

Heritage and heart: Bychkov and the Czech Phil return to Carnegie Hall

By Edward Sava-Segal

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Inspired Dvořák and vibrant Smetana from the Czech Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall

By Susan Stempleski, 03 December 2024

Semyon Bychkov and the much-lauded ensemble are joined at Carnegie Hall by Yo-Yo Ma in dazzling performances from the Czech repertoire.

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New York City

03 Dec 2024

Inspired Dvořák and vibrant Smetana from the Czech Philharmonic

By Susan Stempleski

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Hamburg

Bychkov's uneven Mahler 8 at the Elbphilharmonie

By Alexander Hall, 11 April 2024

Doing justice to the vast scale of Mahler's "Symphony of a Thousand" is itself the mightiest of tasks. Semyon Bychkov and his NDR forces only partially succeed.

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Hamburg

11 Apr 2024

Bychkov's uneven Mahler 8 at the Elbphilharmonie

By Alexander Hall

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Antwerp

The Czech Philharmonic thrills in an evening of Dvořák in Antwerp

By Marc Haegeman, 21 March 2024

What better way is there to celebrate Czech music than with an all-Dvořák programme brought by the Czech Philharmonic under their chief conductor Semyon Bychkov?

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Antwerp

21 Mar 2024

The Czech Philharmonic thrills in an evening of Dvořák in Antwerp

By Marc Haegeman

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Bychkov and the Labèques give New York premiere of Dessner concerto

By David Wolfson, 30 November 2023

Semyon Bychkov leads the New York Philharmonic in flattened Strauss, wondrously physical Rachmaninov, and the New York premiere of Bryce Dessner’s terrific Concerto for two pianos.

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New York City

30 Nov 2023

Bychkov and the Labèques give New York premiere of Dessner concerto

By David Wolfson

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Diminishing Dvořák in Prague

By Frank Kuznik, 12 October 2023

The composer's music is losing some of its national flavor as Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic prepare to take it abroad.

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Prague

12 Oct 2023

Diminishing Dvořák in Prague

By Frank Kuznik

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Refined Dvořák opens Czech Phil season

By Frank Kuznik, 27 September 2023

The orchestra and Semyon Bychkov warm up for a tour of the Far East aimed at winning hearts and minds for Czech music abroad.

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Prague

27 Sep 2023

Refined Dvořák opens Czech Phil season

By Frank Kuznik

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A smilingly serene Bruckner 8 from Bychkov and the BBCSO at the Proms

By Alexander Hall, 04 September 2023

Semyon Bychkov guides the BBC Symphony Orchestra, on magisterial form, through the hills and valleys of Bruckner's last completed and longest symphony.

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London

04 Sep 2023

A smilingly serene Bruckner 8 from Bychkov and the BBCSO at the Proms

By Alexander Hall

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Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Lurching gear changes mar Bychkov's Dvořák at the Festival Ravel

By Mark Valencia, 31 August 2023

An all-Dvořák programme given by the Paris Opera Orchestra fails to full satisfy, despite a couple of exciting concert openers.

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Saint-Jean-de-Luz

31 Aug 2023

Lurching gear changes mar Bychkov's Dvořák at the Festival Ravel

By Mark Valencia

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Semyon Bychkov leads an electric evening at the Rudolfinum

By Frank Kuznik, 16 March 2023

The Czech Philharmonic give sharp, spirited performances of cutting-edge compositions, including the world premiere of Thierry Escaich's new piano concerto.

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Prague

16 Mar 2023

Semyon Bychkov leads an electric evening at the Rudolfinum

By Frank Kuznik

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Semyon Bychkov leads a musically superior Rusalka at Covent Garden

By Mark Pullinger, 21 February 2023

Ann Yee and Natalie Abrahami give Rusalka an ecological reading, but it's the musical side of things that really takes flight in The Royal Opera's new production.

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London

21 Feb 2023

Semyon Bychkov leads a musically superior Rusalka at Covent Garden

By Mark Pullinger

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The Czech Philharmonic debuts a bold new Prague Symphony

By Frank Kuznik, 08 December 2022

Detlev Glanert's homage to Kafka highlights an evening of stellar sounds and talent, including Johan Dalene playing Sibelius.

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Prague

08 Dec 2022

The Czech Philharmonic debuts a bold new Prague Symphony

By Frank Kuznik

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Revolution and remembrance in Bychkov's Shostakovich at the Rudolfinum

By Frank Kuznik, 05 October 2022

After a brilliant showing by pianist Behzod Abduraimov, Semyon Bychkov leads the Czech Philarharmonic in a 65-year-old work that could not be more contemporary.

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Prague

05 Oct 2022

Revolution and remembrance in Bychkov's Shostakovich at the Rudolfinum

By Frank Kuznik

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Batiashvili and Bychkov in memorable opener for the Czech Philharmonic

By Frank Kuznik, 28 September 2022

The orchestra celebrates its 127th season with an evening of exciting excursions, onstage and off.

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Prague

28 Sep 2022

Batiashvili and Bychkov in memorable opener for the Czech Philharmonic

By Frank Kuznik

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Edinburgh

Out of the shadows: Mahler’s Seventh from Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic

By Roy Westbrook, 21 August 2022

For its second concert at the Edinburgh International Festival, the Czech Phil offers colourful, rousing playing in Gustav Mahler's Seventh Symphony.

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Edinburgh

21 Aug 2022

Out of the shadows: Mahler’s Seventh from Bychkov and the Czech Phil

By Roy Westbrook

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Edinburgh

Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic bring Slavic homelands to Edinburgh

By David Smythe, 20 August 2022

Festive Dvořák, intense Martinů with Katia and Marielle Labèque, and an awesome performance of Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass at the Edinburgh International Festival.

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Edinburgh

20 Aug 2022

Slavic homelands: Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic in Edinburgh

By David Smythe

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Music-making of polish and commitment from Bychkov and the BBCSO

By David Truslove, 05 August 2022

A world premiere, a rarely performed concerto and a slice of late Rachmaninov formed a well-conceived programme that also featured the internationally renowned Labèque sisters.

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London

05 Aug 2022

Music-making of polish and commitment from Bychkov and the BBCSO

By David Truslove

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Celebratory Mahler 3 from the The Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra and Bychkov

By Roy Westbrook, 23 June 2022

The Royal Academy of Music marks its 200th anniversary with Mahler's all-embracing Third Symphony, a work that fills both the evening and the concert platform.

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London

23 Jun 2022

Celebratory Mahler 3 from the The Royal Academy of Music and Bychkov

By Roy Westbrook

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Slava! The Czech Philharmonic and Semyon Bychkov glory in Dvořák and Janáček

By Roy Westbrook, 16 March 2022

There could be no more appropriate choice than the Glagolitic Mass, with its text of Old Church Slavonic, for a concert which Bychkov had dedicated to the people of Ukraine.

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London

16 Mar 2022

Slava! The Czech Phil and Bychkov glory in Dvořák and Janáček

By Roy Westbrook

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Dazzling Rachmaninov from Yuja Wang, nostalgic Smetana from the Czech Philharmonic

By Mark Pullinger, 15 March 2022

Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic continue their European tour at the Barbican, pairing Smetana's paean to his homeland with Rachmaninov's early piano concerto.

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London

15 Mar 2022

Dazzling Rachmaninov from Yuja Wang with Bychkov and the Czech Phil

By Mark Pullinger

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The Czech Phil rockin' out at the Rudolfinum

By Frank Kuznik, 15 December 2021

Semyon Bychkov takes the Czech Philharmonic on a joy ride through heavy-duty Russian repertoire and a rock star's woodland fantasy.

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Prague

15 Dec 2021

The Czech Phil rockin' out at the Rudolfinum

By Frank Kuznik

Electrifying Shostakovich in Prague from Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic

By Frank Kuznik, 29 September 2021

Semyon Bychkov opens the new Czech Philharmonic season with a passionate personal commemoration.

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Prague

29 Sep 2021

Electrifying Shostakovich in Prague from Bychkov and the Czech Phil

By Frank Kuznik

A special night in Prague commemorating the Velvet Revolution

By Laurence Vittes, 17 November 2020

Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic play Smetana's Má vlasti n an empty Rudolfinum.

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Prague

17 Nov 2020

A special night in Prague commemorating the Velvet Revolution

By Laurence Vittes

“Greatest of them all”: Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic play Dvořák in Prague

By Roy Westbrook, 24 September 2020

The principal flute provided several of the delights coming from the wind section, still one of the glories of this orchestra.

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Prague

24 Sep 2020

“Greatest of them all”: Bychkov and the Czech PO play Dvořák

By Roy Westbrook

Sychrov

A regal outing for the Czech Philharmonic

By Frank Kuznik, 24 June 2020

With Semyon Bychkov on the podium, the orchestra offers a stirring tribute and music fit for a king.

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Sychrov

24 Jun 2020

A regal outing for the Czech Philharmonic

By Frank Kuznik

Unfinished business: fine Schubert and Beethoven from Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic

By David Karlin, 15 January 2020

The Czech Phil's woodwind are in superb form for a particularly optimistic concert featuring Berio's mercurial Rendering to give us a double dose of Schubert's unfinished symphonic work.

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Prague

15 Jan 2020

Unfinished business: fine Schubert and Beethoven from the Czech Phil

By David Karlin

Vienna

Knockout Pathétique from Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic in Vienna

By Marc Haegeman, 19 November 2019

Bychkov and his sterling Czech forces are joined by Renaud Capuçon for a contrasting all-Tchaikovsky programme on their second day at the Vienna Musikverein.

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Vienna

19 Nov 2019

Knockout Pathétique from Bychkov and the Czech Phi in Vienna

By Marc Haegeman

Vienna

Superb Tchaikovsky from Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic in Vienna

By Marc Haegeman, 18 November 2019

The distinctive sound of the orchestra that seems to encapsulate centuries of Central-European tradition – glowing violins, characterful winds and some of the most pregnant brass you can hear – bloomed in the marvellous acoustics of the Musikverein.

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Vienna

18 Nov 2019

Superb Tchaikovsky from Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic in Vienna

By Marc Haegeman

Prom 69: searing Shostakovich from Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic

By 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.

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London

10 Sep 2019

Searing Shostakovich from Bychkov and the Czech Phil

By Mark Thomas

Prom 33: Bychkov and the BBC SO embrace the spirit of Mahler past and present

By Alexander Hall, 11 August 2019

The BBC Symphony Orchestra in exceptionally fine form under Semyon Bychkov explore the links from Schubert to Mahler and the present-day Glanert.

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London

11 Aug 2019

Bychkov and the BBC SO embrace the spirit of Mahler

By Alexander Hall

Bayreuth

Uwe Eric Laufenberg’s Bayreuth take on Parsifal: the case against religious fundamentalism

By Zoltán Szabó, 30 July 2019

Despite its enigmatic details, Bayreuth's Parsifal reaches a cathartic climax.

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Bayreuth

30 Jul 2019

Uwe Eric Laufenberg’s Bayreuth take on Parsifal

By Zoltán Szabó

Cleveland

Labèques make a persuasive case for rare Bruch in Cleveland

By Timothy Robson, 09 May 2019

Semyon Bychkov was the guest conductor for a fine concert that also included the US premiere of Detlev Glanert’s evocative Wide Open Land, Music with Brahms, and expansive Smetana.

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Cleveland

09 May 2019

Labèques make a persuasive case for rare Bruch in Cleveland

By Timothy Robson

Bruch plus Strauss: curious pairing, inspired playing in Semyon Bychkov's latest NYPO engagement

By Thomas May, 02 May 2019

Coupling a rare but underwhelming concerto by Max Bruch with Strauss's polychrome orchestral showpiece, the program with Semyon Bychkov and the sisters Labèque accentuated superlative musicianship.

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New York City

02 May 2019

Curious pairing, inspired playing in Bychkov's NY Phil engagement

By Thomas May

Semyon Bychkov leads the New York Philharmonic in two symphonies sharing some significant features

By Edward Sava-Segal, 24 April 2019

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Semyon Bychkov present a program of Larcher and Brahms.

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New York City

24 Apr 2019

Bychkov leads the NY Phil in symphonies sharing significant features

By Edward Sava-Segal

Bychkov and the BBCSO matchless in Shostakovich 11

By Roy Westbrook, 10 April 2019

No one who had ever doubted the stature of the Eleventh could do so after this.

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London

10 Apr 2019

Bychkov and the BBCSO matchless in Shostakovich 11

By Roy Westbrook

Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic explore the limits of Mahler's Second at Carnegie Hall

By Theodora Serbanescu-Martin, 28 October 2018

Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic's performance of Mahler's “Resurrection” Symphony properly revealed the tensions between intensity and stillness, resistance and fragility.

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New York City

28 Oct 2018

Bychkov and the Czech Phil explore the limits of Mahler 2

By Theodora Serbanescu-Martin

A fresh start for the Czech Philharmonic

By Frank Kuznik, 10 October 2018

Mahler's Resurrection Symphony provides both a thrilling opener and apt metaphor for the orchestra's new era under Chief Conductor Semyon Bychkov.

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Prague

10 Oct 2018

A fresh start for the Czech Philharmonic

By Frank Kuznik

Prom 65: Bychkov shines in Berio’s '60’s fantasy

By David Truslove, 31 August 2018

Semyon Bychkov’s Prom appearances are always fascinating experiences and this was no different, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra on tremendous form.

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London

31 Aug 2018

Prom 65: Bychkov shines in Berio’s '60’s fantasy

By David Truslove

A New York Philharmonic performance starting as a routine event and ending as an exceptional one

By Edward Sava-Segal, 19 May 2018

Semyon Bychkov lead the New York Philharmonic in an outstanding rendition of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony.

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New York City

19 May 2018

New York Philharmonic start out routinely and end exceptionally

By Edward Sava-Segal

Los Angeles

LA Phil returns home, licks wounds, soldiers on

By Laurence Vittes, 12 May 2018

The audience responded as if they were hearing the Symphony for the first time. They were overwhelmed and let the musicians know it. Good start to the home stand.

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Los Angeles

12 May 2018

LA Phil returns home, licks wounds, soldiers on

By Laurence Vittes

A triumphant Mahler 2 of operatic intensity from Bychkov and the LSO

By Dominic Lowe, 04 February 2018

With this performance of Mahler's 'Resurrection' symphony, Bychkov has shown himself to be one of the composer's most interesting interpreters

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London

04 Feb 2018

Mahler 2 of operatic intensity from Bychkov

By Dominic Lowe

Vienna

Golden Strauss echoes around the Musikverein as Bychkov scales the Alpine Symphony

By Chanda VanderHart, 12 November 2017

Capuçon warmed up through the melancholy second movement, exhibiting seamless legato and the ability to feather his phrases with finesse and subtlety

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Vienna

12 Nov 2017

Golden Strauss echoes around the Musikverein

By Chanda VanderHart

On the edge of the precipice: Britten and Mahler from Janine Jansen, Semyon Bychkov and the LSO

By Mark Pullinger, 05 October 2017

It was another evening staring into the abyss courtesy of the London Symphony Orchestra, with Britten's Violin Concerto paired with Mahler's Fifth Symphony.

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London

05 Oct 2017

On the edge of the precipice with the LSO

By Mark Pullinger