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From Vivaldi to Bowie, a violin sensation tests his mettle as a re-composer

Curtis Stewart
© Jeremy Smith
Curtis Stewart and musicians from the Gateways Music Festival
© Jeremy Smith
By Kurt Gottschalk, 27 April 2025
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“his reworking of Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely dripped quite nicely with sentiment”
Reviewed at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, New York City on 25 April 2025
Programme
Stewart, 24 American Caprices
Stewart, Seasons of Change
Performers
Curtis Stewart, Violin
Gateways Music Festival Orchestra
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Sumptuous Sheffield Chamber Music Festival finale
Phil Parker, 23rd May

Ensemble 360 and soprano Claire Booth test to the limits the definition of ‘chamber music’ in this richly orchestral closing concert of the 2026 Sheffield Chamber Music Festival.

****1
More gold than corn: María Dueñas plays Korngold at the Barbican
Mark Pullinger, 22nd May
The young Spanish violinist proves an ardent advocate for a work originally dismissed as a “Hollywood Concerto” as the BBC Symphony Orchestra closes its Barbican season.
****1
Heavenly Mahler – and Strauss – from Lucy Crowe and the LSO
Roy Westbrook, 21st May
Songs and symphonies from Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra, concluding with a vision of “heavenly life” from Gustav Mahler. 
****1
The ears have it: Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas on the Cutty Sark
Mark Valencia, 21st May
Come away fellow sailors, your anchors be weighing! All board the Cutty Sark for a semi-staging of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists.
****1
Memorable Mendelssohn from Marek Janowski and the New York Phil
Susan Stempleski, 21st May

Principal Trumpet Christopher Martin plays Haydn before the esteemed German maestro conducts a vibrant Scottish Symphony. 

****1
Intimate colossus: Daniil Trifonov with the Rotterdam Philharmonic
Max Lima, 21st May

Late Brahms, early Schoenberg: under Lahav Shani and the Rotterdam Philharmonic draw tenderness from two monumental scores. 

****1
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Kurt Gottschalk
Kurt Gottschalk

Kurt Gottschalk is a journalist and author based in New York City. His writings on contemporary and classical music, jazz and improvisation have been published in outlets throughout Europe and America and he has two volumes of short fiction to his name. He produced and hosted the Miniature Minotaurs radio programme on WFMU and currently hosts Afternoon New Music on WKCR.