Hidden gems at the New Life Festival in Berlin

By Sam Johnstone, 16 July 2017

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Reviewed at St Elisabeth Kirche, Berlin on 14 July 2017

Zemlinsky, Lustspiel-Ouvertüre

Ben-Haim, Pan: Sinfonisches Gedicht für Sopran und Orchester

Weill, Berlin im Licht

Weill, Youkali

Weill, One Touch of Venus: I'm a stranger here myself

Ben-Haim, Klavierkonzert, Op.41 (Deutschlandpremiere)

Toch, Peter Pan, Op.76 (Deutschlandpremiere)

Berliner Symphoniker

Lior Shambadal, Conductor

Mimi Sheffer, Soprano

Gila Goldstein, Piano

Mozart y Bruckner idiosincrásico por Shambadal y la OSN

Vishnu Bachani, 16th June

La Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México ofreció una competente versión de la poco frecuente Tercera sinfonía de Bruckner precedida, para lucimiento de cuatro estupendos solistas, de una Sinfonía concertante de Mozart.

***11

A dream of a Gerontius from Pappano, the LSO and Chorus

Roy Westbrook, 21st April

Giving their 27th performance of the oratorio, the London Symphony Chorus excel as angelic angels and demonic demons.

****1

Benedetti ablaze with the Philharmonia

Christopher Woodley, 19th April

As gifts to the Philarmonia's 80th birthday season, Nicola Benedetti gives a barnstorming account of Elgar's Violin Concerto before Cristian Mӑcelaru gets emotionally drained by La Mer.

*****

Nicholas McGegan brings delicacy and elegance to Mendelssohn

Erica Miner, 18th April

The Seattle Symphony offers an enchanting evening immersed in the joy and brilliance of both the young and the mature genius of Felix Mendelssohn.

****1

Wrangling the octopus: Mahler’s Ninth with Sir Simon Rattle

Chanda VanderHart, 17th April

Less a symphony, more a force of nature, Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Vienna Philharmonic in a turbulent, yet spacious reading of Mahler's Ninth Symphony in the Musikverein.

****1

Picture postcard Spain from the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia

Phil Parker, 17th April

Vibrant, colourful music is played with every last ounce of enthusiasm as the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia rounds off its UK tour at Sheffield City Hall.

****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