Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Scottish Fantasy for violin and orchestra, Op.46

Mendelsohn's Italian Symphony is a perenial and popular favourite, but perhaps one with which we are over-familiar. Could young Alpesh Chauhan do something fresh with it?

The Romantic fervour of Brahms' Haydn Variations and Schumann's Spring Symphony brought out by Cristian Mandeal and the Hallé, plus Sophia Jaffé's glorious performance of Bruch's Scottish Fantasy.

Coupled with its exquisite landscape, the mystery and legend that permeate Scotland’s atmosphere and history have inspired poets, artists and composers to capture its magic and distinctive folklore in evocative works of art. 

Nikki Chooi makes something less than a fantasy out of Bruch but the Auckland Philharmonia shine in Schumann.

Though often played with far greater forces, the Beethoven and Mendelssohn played in this concert were well suited to the small size and immediacy of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Directed energetically from the leader’s chair by Joshua Bell, they gave crisp and clear performances which highlighted the chamber-style aspects of these works.

From Canonbie a mile north of the border to Brae in the Shetland Isles, and all points in between, a few days ago 128 top young instrumentalists and their tutors arrived in Perthshire for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland’s summer school, to rehearse for their summer concert, which this year they are taking to the Proms in London, where they will be joined by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orc

Au programme de cette soirée où l’ONL et Leonard Slatkin ont invité Joshua Bell, des escales dans des univers de douceurs ou de puissances, toujours contrastés et aux influences celtique et dansante.