Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Symphony no. 4 in A major "Italian", Op.90

The Oxford Philharmonic offers uninspiring renditions Bach and Mendelssohn, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of the orchestra under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach.

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Oxford

20 Mar 2025

Unsatisfying Mendelssohn from Eschenbach and the Oxford Philharmonic

By Patrick Maxwell

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London

Joy and hope from the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and Daniel Barenboim

By Chris Garlick, 04 November 2024

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra are on fire with the joy of music-making to the delight of a very sympathetic and enthusiastic audience at London's Southbank Centre.

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London

04 Nov 2024

Joy and hope from Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

By Chris Garlick

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London

A medley of Mendelssohn from Sir András Schiff and the OAE

By Dominic Lowe, 24 April 2024

The first of three concerts in a Mendelssohn cycle sees Sir András Schiff and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment tackle the composer's First and Fourth Symphonies, preceded by the Piano Concerto no. 1.

***11

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***11

London

24 Apr 2024

A medley of Mendelssohn from Sir András Schiff and the OAE

By Dominic Lowe

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New York City

A Grand Tour: Riccardo Muti takes the Chicago Symphony to his beloved Italy

By Edward Sava-Segal, 05 October 2023

The CSO's newly minted Music Director Emeritus for Life conducts a programme of Italian-themed works at Carnegie Hall.

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New York City

05 Oct 2023

Riccardo Muti takes the Chicago Symphony to his beloved Italy

By Edward Sava-Segal

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Perth

Sunny and enchanting Mendelssohn from Maxim Emelyanychev and the SCO

By David Smythe, 01 March 2023

Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony and his incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream are performed at Perth Concert Hall.

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Perth

01 Mar 2023

Sunny and enchanting Mendelssohn from Maxim Emelyanychev and the SCO

By David Smythe

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Manchester

Tami Pohjola and Taavi Oramo make Hallé debuts in masterly Sibelius

By Peter Connors, 13 October 2022

The Hallé also perform two long-neglected mini-masterpieces and a joyful Italian Symphony at the Bridgewater Hall.

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Manchester

13 Oct 2022

Tami Pohjola and Taavi Oramo make Hallé debuts in masterly Sibelius

By Peter Connors

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Klosters

Hollywood on the Rocks: Heras-Casado launches Klosters Music in style

By Mark Pullinger, 30 July 2022

The fourth edition of the festival marks the 800th anniversary of the founding of Klosters with a musical journey back in time.

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Klosters

30 Jul 2022

Heras-Casado launches Klosters Music in style

By Mark Pullinger

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Philadelphia

Joshua Bell revels in Bruch with The Philadelphia Orchestra

By Linda Holt, 19 November 2021

Joshua Bell plays and directs The Philadelphia Orchestra in Bruch, Mendelssohn and Price.

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*****

Philadelphia

19 Nov 2021

Joshua Bell revels in Bruch with The Philadelphia Orchestra

By Linda Holt

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Singapore

Kam Ning headlines an enjoyable evening of Mendelssohn in Singapore

By Chang Tou Liang, 21 October 2021

The internationally acclaimed violinist returns to her hometown with an intimate performance of the composer's Violin Concerto, which was paired with a spirited reading of his "Italian" Symphony.

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Singapore

21 Oct 2021

Kam Ning headlines an enjoyable evening of Mendelssohn in Singapore

By Chang Tou Liang

London

Pack your passport for a musical journey with Chloé van Soeterstède

By Benjamin Poore, 22 June 2021

Sean Shibe impresses alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a programme of nimble works at the Cadogan Hall.

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London

22 Jun 2021

Pack your passport for a musical journey with Chloé van Soeterstède

By Benjamin Poore

Munich

Oksana Lyniv serves up Mendelssohnian surprise in Bavarian RSO debut

By Mark Pullinger, 20 November 2020

String principals Jehye Lee and Tobias Reifland impress in Mozart's sunny Sinfonia Concertante.

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Munich

20 Nov 2020

Oksana Lyniv serves up Mendelssohnian surprise in BRSO debut

By Mark Pullinger

Belgrade

Lakatoš stars in Korngold and Lajovic brings out the best of the Belgrade Philharmonic

By Peter Connors, 17 January 2020

Robert Lakatos proved to be an ideal soloist in Korngold's Violin Concerto and Uroš Lajovic conducted a poised, atmospheric Italian Symphony in Belgrade.

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Belgrade

17 Jan 2020

Uroš Lajovic brings out the best of the Belgrade Phil

By Peter Connors

Prague

Never reaching far below the surface: anemic opening at Dvořák's Prague

By Frank Kuznik, 08 September 2019

For the composer's birthday, a mismatch of performers and repertoire.

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**111

Prague

08 Sep 2019

An anemic opening at Dvořák's Prague

By Frank Kuznik

Cleveland

Vänskä and The Cleveland Orchestra in Italian symphonies by non-Italians

By Sam Jacobson, 16 August 2019

Symphonies by Barber and Mendelssohn offered two distinct portrayals of Italy in Osmo Vänskä’s Cleveland Orchestra program.

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Cleveland

16 Aug 2019

Vänskä conducts Italian symphonies by non-Italians in Cleveland

By Sam Jacobson

Liverpool

Giltburg impresses in Petrenko’s Italian summer in Liverpool

By Leighton Jones, 10 July 2019

As part of their ‘summer’ season, Vasily Petrenko conducted the RLPO in Mendelssohn’s sunny “Italian” Symphony. Boris Giltburg uses Beethoven’s Emperor as a showcase for his flawless talents.

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Liverpool

10 Jul 2019

Giltburg impresses in Petrenko’s Italian summer in Liverpool

By Leighton Jones

Prague

No conductor? No problem at Prague Spring

By Frank Kuznik, 21 May 2019

Less is more in a brilliant performance by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and star soloist Jan Lisiecki at Prague Spring.

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Prague

21 May 2019

No conductor? No problem at Prague Spring

By Frank Kuznik

Hamburg

Souvenirs from the sunny south at the Elbphilharmonie

By Alexander Hall, 21 February 2019

The Principal Guest Conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Krzysztof Urbański, partners Vadim Gluzman in Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto, but is strangely uninspired by Mendelssohn’s tribute to the joys of Italy.

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Hamburg

21 Feb 2019

Souvenirs from the sunny south at the Elbphilharmonie

By Alexander Hall

Dublin

Beethoven to remember from Christian Ihle Hadland and the RTÉ NSO

By Andrew Larkin, 11 January 2019

A charming, thoughtful account of Beethoven's First Piano Concerto by Norwegian pianist Christian Ihle Hadland, while the NSO under the baton of Stutzmann delivered wonderful Haydn and Mendelssohn Symphonies.

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Dublin

11 Jan 2019

Beethoven to remember from Hadland and the RTÉ NSO

By Andrew Larkin

London

La dolce vita and Sommerfrische: Mendelssohn and Brahms from Daniele Gatti and the Philharmonia

By Elisabeth Schwarz, 24 May 2018

Italian sunshine and Austrian spring days evoked in a programmes containing two symphonies at the Royal Festival Hall.

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London

24 May 2018

La dolce vita and Sommerfrische with the Philharmonia

By Elisabeth Schwarz

Seattle

An evening of Mendelssohn and Schumann with the Seattle Symphony and Gidon Kremer

By Thomas May, 12 October 2017

Music by Mendelssohn framed Schumann’s misunderstood Violin Concerto in this sensitive concert led by Ludovic Morlot and featuring guest violinist Gidon Kremer.

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Seattle

12 Oct 2017

An evening of Mendelssohn and Schumann with the Seattle Symphony and Gidon Kremer

By Thomas May

Sydney

Semi-conductor creates electric atmosphere: Joshua Bell and the ASMF in Sydney

By David Larkin, 22 April 2017

Joshua Bell brings star quality to the visit of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, with a stunning performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto the stand-out item on their first Sydney programme.

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Sydney

22 Apr 2017

Semi-conductor creates electric atmosphere

By David Larkin

Zurich

A Mendelssohn-Mahler triumph for the Budapest Festival Orchestra in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet, 08 March 2017

Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra lit up Zurich’s historic Tonhalle with a stellar double-bill of Mendelssohn and Mahler.

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Zurich

08 Mar 2017

A Mendelssohn-Mahler triumph in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet

London

Blank canvas: Pallid Berlioz from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

By Mark Pullinger, 20 February 2017

A disappointing pairing of Berlioz and Mendelssohn from a conductorless Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

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London

20 Feb 2017

Pallid Berlioz from the OAE

By Mark Pullinger

London

Aurora Orchestra’s Grand Tour calls in at Italy

By Jessica Marcus, 17 September 2016

This evening’s performance marked the next stop on the Aurora Orchestra’s Grand Tour, continuing a five-year journey through the complete cycle of Mozart’s piano concertos.

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London

17 Sep 2016

Aurora’s “Grand Tour” continues at Kings Place

By Jessica Marcus

London

Prom 9: Rosa to the rescue: Feola, Rhorer and Le Cercle d'Harmonie

By Alexander Hall, 22 July 2016

Le Cercle d'Harmonie with their founder Jérémie Rhorer fail to convince in symphonies by Mozart and Mendelssohn, whereas the Italian soprano Rosa Feola triumphs in two concert arias.

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**111

London

22 Jul 2016

Prom 9: Rosa to the rescue

By Alexander Hall

Birmingham

Alpesh Chauhan impresses with Mendelssohn's Italian in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer, 08 June 2016

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?

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Birmingham

08 Jun 2016

Alpesh Chauhan impresses with Mendelssohn's Italian in Birmingham

By Robert Gainer

Manchester

Joyous Brahms closes Hallé concert with Andrew Manze

By Rohan Shotton, 10 March 2016

Andrew Manze conducts the Hallé in Mendelssohn's Italian, Strauss' Horn Concerto with Laurence Rogers, and Brahms.

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Manchester

10 Mar 2016

Joyous Brahms closes Hallé concert with Andrew Manze

By Rohan Shotton

Milan

Italian sense, Russian sensibility: Yuri Temirkanov and the St Petersburg Philharmonic at La Scala for MITO opener

By Courtney Smith, 05 September 2015

Yuri Temirkanov chills Felix Mendelssohn and Anton Bruckner symphonic fire with Russian sensibility at the MITO Settembre Musica festival inaugural concert

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Milan

05 Sep 2015

Italian sense, Russian sensibility: St Petersburg Phil/Temirkanov

By Courtney Smith

Atlanta

Roberto Abbado and Sergej Krylov bring Italy to Atlanta

By William E Ford, 14 May 2015

In a program inspired by Italy, Roberto Abbado and Sergej Krylov join the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in powerhouse performances that featured some dazzling solo violin playing.

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Atlanta

14 May 2015

Abbado and Krylove bring Italy to Atlanta

By William E Ford

Naples

A fair treatment of Beethoven and Mendelssohn's Fourth symphonies under Juraj Valčuha

By Lorenzo Fiorito, 21 September 2014

A correct rendition of an improvised program, featuring symphonies by Beethoven and Mendelssohn, following the sudden absence of the cellist Alban Gerhardt.

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Naples

21 Sep 2014

Two fair Fourth Symphonies under Valčuha

By Lorenzo Fiorito

Istanbul

Fiery Mendelssohn from the Istanbul State SO

By Rohan Shotton, 18 April 2014

An excellent Dvořák Cello Concerto with István Várdai and some stirring Mendelssohn from the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra

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Istanbul

18 Apr 2014

Fiery Mendelssohn from the Istanbul State SO

By Rohan Shotton

Birmingham

An impressive start to the CBSO's Mendelssohn cycle under Gardner

By Peter Marks, 19 October 2013

Mendelssohn developed quite a soft spot for Birmingham, even producing a sketched portrait of the city. At the centre of this portrait stands Joseph Hansom's splendid neoclassical Town Hall where Mendelssohn conducted several of his own works, most famously the première of his great oratorio, Elijah.

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Birmingham

19 Oct 2013

An impressive start to the CBSO's Mendelssohn cycle under Gardner

By Peter Marks

Perth

Scottish première of James MacMillan's Oboe Concerto with the SCO

By David Smythe, 30 January 2013

Written for oboist Nicholas Daniel and first performed in Birmingham in 2010, there was excitement and anticipation in Perth for James MacMillan’s Oboe Concerto receiving its Scottish première.The Scottish Chamber Orchestra with soloist François Leleux gave a virtuosic performance of this thought-provoking work, conducted by Thierry Fischer.

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Perth

30 Jan 2013

Scottish première of James MacMillan's Oboe Concerto with the SCO

By David Smythe

Oxford

Oxford Philomusica with Menahem Pressler: Mendelssohn and Mozart

By Julia Savage, 04 August 2012

The Oxford International Piano Festival comprises a two-week long series of workshops and concerts, hosted by Oxford Philomusica and featuring pianists of international esteem, among them Andreas Haefliger and Sergei Babayan. It was Menahem Pressler, now in his 88th year, who gave the closing piano masterclasses and performed in the closing concert at the Sheldonian Theatre.

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Oxford

04 Aug 2012

Oxford Philomusica with Menahem Pressler: Mendelssohn and Mozart

By Julia Savage

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Frankfurt am Main

Italienische Impressionen: Muti und das Chicago Symphony Orchestra auf Abschiedstournee

By Alexandra Richter, 19 January 2024

Riccardo Muti, Chicagos Music Director Emeritus auf Lebenszeit, präsentiert in der Alten Oper Frankfurt ein italienisches Programm, das es in sich hat.

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Frankfurt am Main

19 Jan 2024

Riccardo Muti und das Chicago Symphony Orchestra auf Abschiedstournee

By Alexandra Richter

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Paris

Riccardo Muti et le Chicago Symphony Orchestra, un couple légendaire à la Philharmonie

By Pierre Liscia-Beaurenaut, 13 January 2024

Dans un programme « italien » qui associait la création française d'une œuvre de Glass à des partitions de Mendelssohn et Strauss, le chef et l'orchestre ont montré leur singularité.

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Paris

13 Jan 2024

Riccardo Muti et Chicago, un couple légendaire à la Philharmonie

By Pierre Liscia-Beaurenaut

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Brussels

Kazushi Ono, Gautier Capuçon et le Brussels Philharmonic conquérants à Flagey

By Valentin Gautron Lavarone, 03 June 2023

Kazushi Ono et le Brussels Philharmonic ont donné une version bien orageuse de la Symphonie « Italienne » de Felix Mendelssohn, tandis que Gautier Capuçon a livré une incarnation manquant de nuances dans Don Quixote.

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Brussels

03 Jun 2023

Gautier Capuçon et le Brussels Philharmonic conquérants à Flagey

By Valentin Gautron Lavarone

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Cáceres

Virginia Martínez y la OEX extienden una sugerente gama sonora desde Garcés Ramírez a Weber y Mendelssohn

By Andrea Lorenzo Lancho, 03 March 2023

Los jóvenes talentos de la Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía, la batuta de Virginia Martínez y la OEX exploran la sobrecogedora atmósfera de Garcés Ramírez y las coloraturas de Weber y Mendelssohn.

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Cáceres

03 Mar 2023

La OEX y alumnos de la Escuela Reina Sofía con Virginia Martínez

By Andrea Lorenzo Lancho

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Brussels

Tout un monde de poésie : Véronique Gens, Hugh Wolff et le BNO à Bozar

By Valentin Gautron Lavarone, 01 April 2022

Hugh Wolff et le Belgian National Orchestra naviguent brillamment dans Mozart, Berlioz et Mendelssohn mais se révèlent vraiment avec les Rückert Lieder de Mahler aux côtés de Véronique Gens.

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Brussels

01 Apr 2022

Tout un monde de poésie : Véronique Gens, Hugh Wolff et le BNO à Bozar

By Valentin Gautron Lavarone

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Paris

Irrésistible soirée Mendelssohn avec Lars Vogt et l'Orchestre de chambre de Paris

By Alain Lompech, 21 March 2022

À la tête de son Orchestre de chambre de Paris, le chef et pianiste dirige un concert 100% Mendelssohn éblouissant, qui rend justice au génie du compositeur.

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Paris

21 Mar 2022

Irrésistible soirée Mendelssohn avec Lars Vogt et l'OcP

By Alain Lompech

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Barcelona

La elegancia de Miura y Zukerman: preludio y consumación del violín en L’Auditori

By Maria Sánchez, 03 December 2021

Junto con la OBC, el Fumiaki Miura brilló en un programa dedicado a Mendelssohn, acompañado en interpretación y dirección de uno de sus mentores, Pinchas Zukerman.

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Barcelona

03 Dec 2021

La elegancia de Miura y Zukerman en L’Auditori

By Maria Sánchez

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

D'Melon y Feddeck fascinan con un Tchaikovsky electrizante junto a la Sinfónica de Tenerife

By Francisco Martínez Ramos, 17 September 2021

La Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife presentó obras de Mendelssohn y Tchaikovsky en su segundo concierto de la temporada 2021-2022 con Ellinor D’Melon como solista y James Feddeck como director.

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Santa Cruz de Tenerife

17 Sep 2021

D'Melon y Feddeck fascinan con un Tchaikovsky electrizante

By Francisco Martínez Ramos

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Un Dudamel camerístico y magistral confirma su categoría junto a la Mahler Chamber Orchestra

By Francisco Martínez Ramos, 04 July 2021

Con la interpretación de obras de Mendelssohn y Beethoven, Gustavo Dudamel y la Mahler Chamber Orchestra concluyen su participación en el 37 Festival Internacional de Música de Canarias.

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Santa Cruz de Tenerife

04 Jul 2021

Un Dudamel camerístico junto a la Mahler Chamber Orchestra

By Francisco Martínez Ramos

Lyon

Entre fulgurance et lassitude : Rustioni, maestro symphonique à l’Opéra de Lyon

By Augustin Javel, 02 February 2020

L'Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon et son directeur musical Daniele Rustioni sortent de la fosse pour un concert symphonique où l'interprétation des symphonies de Mahler et Mendelssohn ne convainc qu'à moitié.

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Lyon

02 Feb 2020

Entre fulgurance et lassitude : Rustioni, maestro symphonique à Lyon

By Augustin Javel

Mulhouse

La croisière intranquille de l'Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse

By Jean Landras, 24 January 2020

La phalange mulhousienne a donné une création française de Kareem Roustom avant une brillante Symphonie espagnole par Alexandra Soumm. La Symphonie « italienne » de Mendelssohn a moins convaincu.

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Mulhouse

24 Jan 2020

La croisière intranquille de l'Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse

By Jean Landras

Essen

La dolce vita: Dresdner Festspielorchester mit Mendelssohn und Schumann in Essen

By Jens Klier, 23 November 2019

Auf dieser historischen Reise erfreut Martin Helmchen mit lyrischem und triumphalem Wasserballett, das Dresdner Festspielorchester unter Ivor Bolton mit genüsslichem dolce vita.

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Essen

23 Nov 2019

La dolce vita: Dresdner Festspielorchester in Essen

By Jens Klier

Berlin

Aus Liebe zum Detail: Emanuel Ax zu Gast in Berlin

By Sebastian Urmoneit, 28 June 2019

Kent Nagano leitet einen virtuosen Saisonausklang des Deutschen Symphonie-Orchesters.

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Berlin

28 Jun 2019

Aus Liebe zum Detail: Emanuel Ax zu Gast in Berlin

By Sebastian Urmoneit

Paris

Nelsons et le Gewandhaus de Leipzig : un orchestre hors concours

By Tristan Labouret, 22 January 2019

Sous la direction d'Andris Nelsons, le Gewandhausorchester de Leipzig se produisait à la Philharmonie de Paris dans un répertoire entièrement symphonique. Une démonstration orchestrale.

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Paris

22 Jan 2019

Nelsons et le Gewandhaus de Leipzig : un orchestre hors concours

By Tristan Labouret