Bachtrack logo
What's on
All eventsConcertsOperaDanceKids eventsMasterclassesCompetitionsFestivals
Reviews
All reviewsConcert reviewsOpera reviewsDance reviews
Articles
All articlesFeaturesInterviewsOpinionPlaylists
News
Video
Video homeAll videoStreamed eventsConcertsOperaDanceKids eventsMasterclassesPublishers
Site
About usContact usLink to usConditions of useCookiesPrivacy
Young artists
Travel
EventsReviewsArticlesVideo

Clumsy Liszt, listless Berlioz from Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin in Vienna

Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin
© Dieter Nagl, courtesy of Musikverein Wien
The Staatskapelle Berlin in the Musikverein
© Dieter Nagl, courtesy of Musikverein Wien
By Mark Pullinger, 08 March 2023
Loading, please wait...
See full listing
“it’s difficult to watch our heroes diminished”
Reviewed at Musikverein: Großer Saal, Vienna on 7 March 2023
Programme
Boulez, Livre pour cordes
Liszt, Piano Concerto no. 1 in E flat major, S 124
Bizet, Jeux d'enfants, Op.22: Petit mari, petite femme
Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique, Op.14
Performers
Martha Argerich, Piano
Staatskapelle Berlin
Daniel Barenboim, Conductor
More Concert reviews
Subtle magic: Zubin Mehta celebrates his 90th birthday in Berlin
Zenaida des Aubris, 3rd May

Zubin Mehta celebrates his 90th birthday with a concert at the Staatsoper Berlin. 

*****
Eyes wide shut for Berlin’s new Ballo
Mark Pullinger, 29th March
At the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Rafael R Villalobos addresses the problems he perceives with Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, although the musical performances – led by Anna Netrebko – compensate.
***11
Young stars shine in the Staatsoper Berlin’s Rosenkavalier
Mark Pullinger, 28th March
Patricia Nolz makes an outstanding role debut as Christian Thielemann conducts a thrusting Rosenkavalier to open the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's Festtage. 
*****
Love is in the hare: a new Cunning Little Vixen opens in Berlin
Elena Luporini, 28th February
The Staatsoper's new production of Janáček's opera buzzes with life thanks to Sir Simon Rattle's conducting and an excellent cast led by Vera-Lotte Boecker and Magdalena Kožená.
****1
Pintscher’s Das kalte Herz premieres at Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Elena Luporini, 14th January
On a snowy January evening, the premiere of Matthias Pintscher’s new opera Das kalte Herz fails to warm up the Berlin public.
**111
Happy 100th birthday, Wozzeck! Thielemann leads Berlin revival
Elena Luporini, 14th December
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden celebrates the 100th birthday of Alban Berg's masterpiece with a stellar cast in Andrea Breth’s revived production. 
***11
More reviews...
Read reviews of
Daniel BarenboimFranz LisztGeorges BizetHector BerliozLivre pour cordesMartha ArgerichPiano Concerto no. 1 in E flat major, S 124Pierre BoulezStaatskapelle BerlinSymphonie fantastique, Op.14
Related articles
Loading image...
The demon symphony: Gareth Davies on Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique
Loading image...
The Wolfgang app: Explaining music, one line at a time
Loading image...
High performance: Kian Soltani on his Stradivari cello
Loading image...
The art of memory: classical music for mourning
More by Mark Pullinger
Loading image...
Redemption and a musical caffeine shot: Andris Nelsons conducts Mahler 8 in Vienna
Loading image...
Bachtrack top ten: Shakespeare in music
Loading image...
Seconds out! Regents Opera’s Salome lands a knockout punch at York Hall
Loading image...
Elim Chan: from Sorcerer’s Apprentice to Proms Queen and beyond
Mark Pullinger
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.