Playfulness and horror: Beethoven and Shostakovich in Cardiff

Ryan Bancroft rehearses the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Jonathan Biss and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in rehearsal

Par Simon Cummings, 12 février 2024

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“James Platt became something akin to a prophet, crying out in a mix of despair and outrage”

Critique faite à BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff, le 11 février 2024

Beethoven, Concerto pour piano et orchestre no. 1 en ut majeur, Op. 15

Chostakovitch, Symphonie no. 13 en si bémol mineur, "Babi Yar", Op.113

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Ryan Bancroft, Direction

Jonathan Biss, Piano

James Platt, Basse

BBC National Chorus of Wales

Prom 15 : Prokofiev, Qigang Chen, Rachmaninov

Julie Jozwiak, 29th July

Au programme du Prom 15 : la première britannique d'Iris dévoilée, pièce de Qigang Chen, précédée par la Symphonie n°1 de Prokofiev et suivie par la Symphonie n°2 de Rachmaninov. De la très belle musique, délectable malgré une interprétation du BBC NOW manquant parfois d'ardeur.

***11

Nail-biting Shostakovich from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Dominic Lowe, 15th August

Before a searing performance of Shostakovich's Thirteenth from Ryan Bancroft and his Welsh forces, Benjamin Grosvenor delivers a terrific performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major.

****1

Bancroft and BBCNOW at the Proms: a deeply satisfying Mahler 3

David Karlin, 11th August

Bancroft and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales provide a Mahler 3 of exceptional clarity and forward momentum, with terrific posthorn solos from Corey Morris and Beth Taylor an outstanding soloist.

****1

Exciting Bacewicz and Lutosławski from Tadaaki Otaka and the BBC NOW

Nick Boston, 30th July

Strong performances of Bacewicz and Lutosławski in Tadaaki Otaka's final outing with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at the Proms, with technically commanding and sincere Rachmaninov from Vadym Kholodenko.

***11

Nil Venditti impresses in BBC Proms debut

Christopher Woodley, 12th August

Beethoven and Sir Karl Jenkins receive top-notch performances from Nil Venditti and the BBC NOW.

****1

A choral treat to savour: Verdi’s Requiem at the BBC Proms

David Karlin, 23rd July

An outstanding choral performance by nearly 300 singers of the BBC National Chorus of Wales and the Crouch End Festival Chorus lights up Verdi’s hybrid of opera and devotional music.

*****

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Simon Cummings

Simon Cummings is a composer, writer and researcher based in the Cotswolds. He composes instrumental and electronic music, exploring aspects of algorithmic composition, and has recently completed a Ph.D. in composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire under the supervision of Richard Causton and Howard Skempton. His musical tastes are ludicrously broad but are focused most on contemporary/avant-garde classical and electronic music. When not composing, he writes regularly about new music; Simon is the author of the contemporary music blog 5:4 (5against4.com), and regularly contributes articles for a variety of books, journals and websites. Follow him on Twitter @5against4.

Playfulness and horror: Beethoven and Shostakovich go head to head in Cardiff