Susanna Mälkki's “Akademie Modern” in Berlin

By Sam Johnstone, 23 June 2016

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“Messagesquisse... an extraordinary study of the instrument’s resonance”

Reviewed at Philharmonie: Kammermusiksaal, Berlin on 20 June 2016

Stockhausen, Zeitmaße

Boulez, Dérive 1

Boulez, Messagesquisse, for solo cello & 6 cellos

Jarrell, Cassandre

Orchestra Academy of the Berliner Philharmoniker

Susanna Mälkki, Conductor

Fanny Ardant, Vocals

Bruno Delepelaire, Cello

Nothing false about La finta giardiniera in Baden-Baden

Jonathan Sutherland, 25th March

Christian Carsten’s hilarious production of Die Gärtnerin aus Liebe reveals Mozart’s non-judgmental social satire and irrepressible sense of fun.

****1

Innocence: Saariaho’s final opera receives New York premiere

Kurt Gottschalk, 6th April

At the Metropolitan Opera, Innocence proves a gripping and perhaps divisive piece which feels real because it is a reflection of our reality, with no realistic hope of finding peace.

*****

The starry trio of Davidsen-Hilley-Mälkki saves Tristan und Isolde

Maria Sánchez, 12th January

A highly unbalanced premiere, its opportunity to become one of the Liceu's historic productions prevented by the contrast between dramaturgy and music.

****1

Musical tributes to Festival d’Aix as it wins Birgit Nilsson Prize

Peter Quantrill, 21st October

Pierre Audi is remembered in words and music as the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence receives $1m – the richest prize in classical music – at Stockholm’s Konserthuset.

Made in America: Mälkki, Josefowicz and the LSO in a fine showcase

Roy Westbrook, 18th May

Julia Perry and two Europeans exiled to America feature in Susanna Mälkki's London Symphony Orchestra programme, featuring Leila Josefowicz as soloist in Stravinsky's Violin Concerto.

****1

Lise Davidsen thrills in Metropolitan Opera’s Fidelio revival

Robert Levine, 7th March

Exceptional singing enlivens a flawed production, which takes liberties with the tone and tenor of Beethoven's sole opera.

****1

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Sam Johnstone

Sam Johnstone is a musician and writer based in Berlin. He has written on classical, contemporary and world music for Sinfini Music, The Cusp and World Music Network, and about the influence of the avant-garde on contemporary music in Germany and Japan whilst studying at Oxford University and SOAS, University of London. Sam blogs at www.spljohnstone.com and tweets at @spljohnstone