Beethovenian japes and sleepy Berlioz

By Mark Pullinger, 02 April 2017

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“a big, silky sound, Brahmsian in sheen”

Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 1 April 2017

Beethoven, Excerpts from String Quartets

Adams, Absolute Jest, for string quartet and orchestra

Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique, Op.14

Berlioz, La Damnation de Faust, Op.24: Rákóczy March

Alan Gilbert, Conductor

Frank Huang, Violin

Sheryl Staples, Violin

Cynthia Phelps, Viola

Carter Brey, Cello

New York Philharmonic

Semyon Bychkov conducts a triumphant New York Phil season finale

Susan Stempleski, 4th June

The Soviet-born American conductor delivers a robust account of Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony in the final program of the Philharmonic’s subscription season.

****1

Elim Chan takes the New York Philharmonic to the ball

Susan Stempleski, 27th May

The Hong Kong-born conductor conducts a masterful performance of selections from Prokofiev’s Cinderella and Philharmonic Principal Carter Brey bids farewell in Saint-Saëns’ First Cello Concerto.

****1

Memorable Mendelssohn from Marek Janowski and the New York Phil

Susan Stempleski, 21st May

Principal Trumpet Christopher Martin plays Haydn before the esteemed German maestro conducts a vibrant Scottish Symphony.

****1

Barbara Hannigan makes a powerful connection in La Voix humaine

Thomas May, 23rd April

The Canadian soprano and conductor fuses live performance and video in a taut, volatile account of Poulenc’s punch-packing monodrama with the New York Philharmonic, sharing the bill with Strauss’ valedictory Metamorphosen.

****1

A vocally perplexing economics assignment from David Lang

No’a L. bat Miri, 19th March

The New York Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel deliver the world premiere of Lang's The wealth of nations, inspired by Adam Smith's famous treatise.

***11

Weinberg rarity overshadows John Williams at the New York Philharmonic

Cameron Kelsall, 1st March

John Williams put butts in seats with the New York debut of his Piano Concerto, but the NY Phil's first performances of Mieczysław Weinberg’s Symphony no. 5 stole the show.

****1

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Beethovenian japes and sleepy Berlioz: New York Philharmonic continues its Barbican residency