Silver threads and golden needles

By Mark Thomas, 30 June 2017

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“Faust in particular brought thoughtfully meditative qualities and infused a real dialogue”

Reviewed at Wigmore Hall, London on 29 June 2017

Bach, Suite no. 2 in A minor, BWV1067a

Bach, Violin Concerto in E major, BWV1042

Bach, Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV1041

Bach C.P.E., Symphony in B minor, Wq 182/5

Bach, Double Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV1043

Isabelle Faust, Violin

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin

Bernhard Forck, Director

Venetian splendour in Berlin: a heartfelt New Year’s celebration

Mengguang Huang, 1st January

Cavalli’s Messa concertata and Venetian polychoral masterpieces shine in Berlin’s Philharmonie, with a heartfelt, immersive New Year’s experience of ritual grandeur and warmth.

*****

A compelling concert from the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin in Dublin

Andrew Larkin, 7th May

The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin delivers an exciting concert of early Classical works from Mozart, Haydn, Gluck and Telemann.

****1

Spinning the Wheel of Fortune: Vivaldi's Il Giustino in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 20th November

A new production of Vivaldi's Byzantine opera Il Giustino charms Berlin, thanks to René Jacobs' exemplary conducting and a top-level cast led by Christophe Dumaux.

****1

A gripping Return of Ulysses from Opera Collective Ireland

Andrew Larkin, 7th September

Fine singing all round, sensitive continuo musicianship and dramatic action make for a thoroughly enjoyable Return of Ulysses by Monteverdi.

****1

A heavy crown: austere Monteverdi at the Staatsoper

Hugo Shirley, 13th December

The Staatsoper's new L'incoronazione di Poppea is serious, intelligent but short on fire.

***11

AKAMUS struggles with Bach in Barcelona

Pep Gorgori, 11th May

Clemens Flick (harpsichord) and Christoph Huntgeburth (flute) gave an impressive performance as soloists, while the orchestra wasn’t able to play as well as expected.

**111

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Mark Thomas

A lifelong devotee of classical music, Mark caught the bug after listening to The Planets, The Rite of Spring and Beethoven’s Fifth when he was knee-high to a grasshopper. He has degrees in non-musical subjects and currently works as a Chartered Governance Professional, but these have proved to be mere distractions from the wonders of sonatas, concertos and symphonies. He has been reviewing for Bachtrack since 2016, plays viola and violin (very shakily) and used to sing a bit (even more shakily).

Silver threads and golden needles: Faust and Akamus weave impressively through Bach