Instrument: Trombone

The performers in Part 1 of aus LICHT at the Holland Festival are amazing, but the production doesn’t rev up until the Archangel Michael goes on his dizzying world tour.

The evening left you in no doubt that in Donnerstag aus Licht is more approachable than many would imagine, as well as being a major creative achievement that is crying out to be explored by opera houses.

John Casken's intriguing new work for trombone and orchestra presents a musical interpretation of a Michelangelo drawing, along with superb Mozart and powerful Prokofiev. 

Higgins never forgets that the concerto form has a playful element

Some 15 minutes long, in a slow-fast-slow form, Le Tombeau de Napoléon wraps a taxing solo part for tenor trombone in a dramatically compelling and sonically thrilling orchestral canvas.

There were memorable moments, as Noseda continued his advocacy of Sir James MacMillan and Shostakovich symphony cycle. Yet Noseda’s maximalist approach had its costs, as it was only in the opening Kodály that found Noseda at his best.

Spanish composer Elena Mendoza presents a hermetic piece of contemporary theatre that is at the same time a disappointing opera and a worthy musical exploration of literary universe of Juan Carlos Onetti