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Bachtrack Newsletter | 29 September 2023
Welcome to our weekly newsletter. Our streams feature some imaginative programmes and/or locations – Mozart and Vivaldi played in the Louvre, Philip Glass' David Bowie-inspired First Symphony in Reykjavík and a fascinating concert drawing on Greek mythology with Thomas Søndergård and the Minnesota Orchestra.
We hope you enjoy our recommendations.
Mark Pullinger, Elisabeth Schwarz, Jo Johnson, David and Alison Karlin
SPONSORED
The authenticity of spirit: Semyon Bychkov
“By now, it’s no longer ‘their’ Dvořák or ‘my’ Dvořák. It’s our Dvořák.” Conductor Semyon Bychkov talks to Richard Bratby about his special relationship with the Czech Philharmonic ahead of their autumn Dvořák programmes.
SPONSORED
Palau de la Música Catalana
Read our preview of the 2023–24 season in the only hall listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. From big-boned Strauss to intimate chamber recitals, from Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil to Sol Gabetta and Bertrand Chamayou, there’s a richly varied season ahead.
Must-see events this week
For those of you based in the UK and Ireland, we've hand-picked several live events happening near you in the next week: six concerts, operas and ballets which we recommend you get to if you can.
SPONSORED
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff
5 Oct
A new BBC NOW season opens with works by Robert Schumann bookending Mahler's Kindertotenlieder with mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn
More information
SPONSORED
Salon Concert
Stone House, Lewisham, London
5 Oct
Mezzo-soprano Kezia Bienek and pianist James Southall explore songs that have been hidden in the Foyle Opera Rara Collection since the 19th century
More information
The Coronation of Poppea
Hackney Empire, London
30 Sep
Robin Norton-Hale directs English Touring Opera's new production, with a new English translation of the libretto from poet and classicist Helen Eastman
More information
Don Quixote
Royal Opera House, London
30 Sep-17 Nov
Teeming with comedy, wit and bravura choreography, Carlos Acosta's production for The Royal Ballet brings Cervantes' classic novel to life
More information
Basel Chamber Orchestra
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
2 Oct
On the Manchester leg of their UK tour, conductor Daniel Bard and pianist Angela Hewitt embark on an enthralling trip through three centuries of music
More information
Rachmaninov 150
Kings Place, London
5 Oct
London Piano Festival Artistic Directors Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen celebrate Rachmaninov's anniversary in a programme underpinned by dance
More information
Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann
When Jacques Offenbach died (5th October 1880), he left his operatic masterpiece Les Contes d'Hoffmann incomplete. Elodie Olson-Coons charts its rocky history through a glittering whirlwind of set pieces to become one of the staples of the repertoire.
Concert streams
Frankfurt am Main
JS Bach and the Reformation feature in Masaaki Suzuki's Frankfurt RSO concert
Reykjavík
Daníel Bjarnason conducts the Iceland SO in Jóhann Jóhannsson and Philip Glass
Minneapolis
Thomas Søndergård takes you on a musical tour through Ancient Greek mythology
Berlin
Alexandre Kantorow plays finger-crunching Liszt with the Berlin Phil and Tugan Sokhiev
Paris
Statues in the Louvre are the (silent) audience for Le Concert de la Loge in Vivaldi and Mozart
Opera streams
The Maid of Orleans
Deutsche Oper am Rhein
The dramatic tale of Joan of Arc – via Schiller and Tchaikovsky – is told in Elisabeth Stöppler's new staging
Picture a day like this
Festival d'Aix-en-Provence
Sir George Benjamin and Martin Crimp's latest opera is now showing in London, so chance to rewatch the Aix world premiere
Latest reviews
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Photography credits:
Semyon Bychkov © Marco Borggreve, Palau de la Música Catalana © Antoni Bofill | BCN Clàssics;
Christianne Stotijn © Ab Vos, Kezia Bienek © Opera Rara, Basel Chamber Orchestra © Basel Chamber Orchestra, Katya Apekisheva © Kings Place;
Masaaki Suzuki © Marco Borggreve, Daníel Bjarnason © Saga Sig, Thomas Søndergård © Martin Bubandt, Alexandre Kantorow © Sasha Gusov, Le Concert de la Loge © Arte Concert, Kirill Karabits © Konrad Cwik;
The Maid of Orleans © Sandra Then, Picture a day like this © Jean-Louis Fernandez;
Ryan McKinny and Joyce DiDonato (Dead Man Walking) © Karen Almond | Met Opera, Lorenzo Trossello, Erina Takahashi and Gareth Haw (Four Last Songs) © Laurent Liotardo, Kiera Duffy (10 Days in the Madhouse) © Dominic M Mercier, Ton Koopman © NHKSO, Jonas Kaufmann (Doppelgänger) © Monika Rittershaus, courtesy of Park Avenue Armory, Sir Mark Elder © Alex Burns | The Hallé
