Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | L'Auditori: Sala Pau Casals

This season, the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya (OBC) is turning its eyes towards Bach, whilst at the same time programming the usual great symphonic repertoire, as well as contemporary composers. Here, Kazushi Ono gathered a Bach concerto (transcribed for violin), a rarely-performed work by Schumann and Richard Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra.

The bonds between Kazushi Ono and the OBC musicians are slowly improving.

Clemens Flick (harpsichord) and Christoph Huntgeburth (flute) gave an impressive performance as soloists, while the orchestra wasn’t able to play as well as expected.

Bach presented in various orchestral transcriptions made for a powerful, entertaining evening in Barcelona. 

An outstanding concert, with impressive performers that love to play together and had lots of time to rehearse

Gergiev and the Mariinsky excel in Act III of Tristan und Isolde with the help of star singing from Vekua, Westbroek and Nikitin; George Li shows promise in Liszt.

Barcelona's L'Auditori was taken on a journey of contrasts, via Parra and Prokofiev, that unsettled as much as it delighted. 

Truly sublime playing and singing from the massed forces in Barcelona's L'Auditori perfectly showcased Mahler's genius ability to evoke whole worlds.

A solidly brazen night from the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra under Valery Gergiev that ultimately lacked sincerity and depth thanks to its quick-fire delivery.

Seamless playing and magical moments from the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya in a youthful programme meant that a slight lack of flair and grit felt even more amiss.

La WDR de Colonia es sin duda una de las mejores orquestas europeas, y Jukka-Pekka Saraste a conseguido un ambiente en su seno difícil de igualar, y éso se nota en cada interpretación.