Beethoven or bust: anniversary series launched at Wigmore Hall

By Mark Pullinger, 16 September 2019

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“hewn from marble rather than granite”

Reviewed at Wigmore Hall, London on 15 September 2019

Beethoven, Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola in D major, Op.25

Beethoven, Horn Sonata in F major, Op.17

Beethoven, Quintet for Piano and Winds in E flat major, Op.16

Beethoven, Septet in E flat major, Op.20

Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 30 in E major, Op.109

Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 31 in A flat major, Op.110

Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 32 in C minor, Op.111

Janne Thomsen, Flute

Michael Collins, Clarinet

Nicholas Daniel, Oboe

Amy Harman, Bassoon

Alec Frank-Gemmill, French horn

Benjamin Baker, Violin

Timothy Ridout, Viola

Isang Enders, Cello

Jordi Carrasco-Hjelm, Double Bass

Aleksandar Madžar, Piano

Elisabeth Leonskaja, Piano

Batons and broomsticks with Joana Mallwitz in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 22nd February

A folk-centred programme delights Berlin's Konzerthaus under the conducting of Joana Mallwitz – with the special participation of soloist Elisabeth Leonskaja.

****1

Leonskaja and the Staatskapelle Streichquartett at Wigmore Hall

Chris Garlick, 20th September

The contrasts in Brahms' two early piano quartets are highlighted by side by members of the Staatskapelle Streichquartett and Elisabeth Leonskaja.

****1

An unforgettable musical experience at the Ragged School Museum

Chris Garlick, 4th October

The final event of the Ragged School Museum Festival saw a programme of Brahms and Shostakovich in the wonderful Victorian museum, tucked away at the heart of the East End.

*****

Leonskaja's Schubert thrills the Pierre Boulez Saal

David Karlin, 22nd November

A pair of A minor sonatas demonstrate the composer's evolution over his lifetime; the Wanderer Fantasy shows the pianist's mastery of phrasing.

****1

Mediocre Beethoven but brilliant Shostakovich from the SCO

Simon Thompson, 1st February

The SCO’s strings play as though they had an insight into the composer’s psyche that few could share.

****1

Bracing Prokofiev from Dutoit and the RPO

Mark Pullinger, 7th March

With combined ages of over 150 years between conductor and soloist, there was no lack of experience on the platform for this Royal Philharmonic Orchestra concert.

***11

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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.