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The Really Big Chorus - View from the Podium

By Bachtrack, 08 July 2011

Can you imagine the thrill of conducting thousands of voices in the Royal Albert Hall? Well I've been lucky enough to be doing that for five or six years, now as Principal Conductor of The Really Big Chorus: 1,500 voices for Verdi's Requiem, for example, 3,000 for The Armed Man and—the really big one— almost 4,000 for the annual Messiah from Scratch. It's unbelievable! And now there's Carl Orff's blockbusting Carmina Burana to look forward to on 10 July. If any piece of music demands a massive and mighty bunch of singers, it's that one and I can hardly wait for that unforgettable opening impact, when over 1,500 wide-open throats let rip!

Kathy Elgin, 25th September

Clearly on a mission to prove that today’s dance world comprises many styles that feed into and refresh each other, Scottish Ballet starts as it means to go on.

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Bachtrack top ten: Dmitri Shostakovich

Mark Pullinger, 25th September

Conformist or closet dissident? Dmitri Shostakovich had to adapt, chameleon-like, to the changing political climate in the Soviet Union, toeing the party line where necessary, but planting his music with coded messages.

Venturing into the STAGE+ house of wonders

Peter Quantrill, 25th September

The vast treasure troves of Deutsche Grammophon, Decca and Hyperion – as well as live performances from Bayreuth – are brought under one umbrella in the new, state-of-the-art streaming platform.

Ups and downs with Rouvali and the Philharmonia

Chris Garlick, 24th September

Rouvali's Sibelius completely misses the mark, but his Shostakovich is thrilling and vibrant.

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Beginning at the end: Mahler 9 opens Elder’s final Hallé season

Rohan Shotton, 24th September

Sir Mark Elder begins his final season at the helm of The Hallé with a moving account of Mahler's Ninth Symphony at Bridgewater Hall that capturing every aspect of its epic voyage.

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Joyful Mozart from Ton Koopman and the NHK Symphony

Nahoko Gotoh, 24th September

At Suntory Hall, Ton Koopman and the NHK Symphony Orchestra bring elegance and exuberance to an all-Mozart programme including a flute concerto featuring its principal flautist.

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