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Big city alienation and love in the LSO's Bernstein 100 season

By John Johnston, 17 December 2017
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“Danielle de Niese soared to ditsy coloratura heights”
Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 16 December 2017
Programme
Bernstein, Symphony no. 2, "The Age of Anxiety"
Bernstein, Wonderful Town (concert version)
Performers
Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor
Danielle de Niese, Eileen Sherwood
Nathan Gunn, Robert Baker
Duncan Rock, Wreck
Alysha Umphress, Ruth Sherwood
London Symphony Chorus
Simon Halsey, Choirmaster / chorus director
Krystian Zimerman, Piano
London Symphony Orchestra
Ashley Riches, Baritone
David Butt Philip, Tenor
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Read reviews of
Alysha UmphressAshley RichesDanielle de NieseDavid Butt PhilipDuncan RockKrystian ZimermanLeonard BernsteinLondon Symphony ChorusLondon Symphony OrchestraNathan GunnSimon HalseySir Simon RattleSymphony no. 2, "The Age of Anxiety"Wonderful Town
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John Johnston
John Johnston

John Johnston was a contributor to Bachtrack 2017-19. John was a true gentleman and lifelong opera "nut" who frequently travelled across Europe to catch performances, making regular pilgrimages to the Bayreuth Festival among others. His supreme knowledge and appreciation of voices meant he took to reviewing like the proverbial duck to water. We enjoyed his style and his insatiable appetite for catching rare operas and new productions wherever he could.