Four composers speak to war and mortality

By Gus Mitchell, 12 November 2018

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“The LPO and Jurowski did not shy away from intensity, contradiction and a heavy dose of mystery”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 10 November 2018

Debussy, Berceuse héroïque

Lindberg, Triumph to Exist (World premiere)

Stravinsky, Requiem Canticles

Janáček, The Eternal Gospel, legend for soloists, choir and orchestra

Vladimir Jurowski, Conductor

London Philharmonic Choir

London Philharmonic Orchestra

A deli-cious revival of Rossini’s Il turco in Italia at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 23rd May

Mariame Clément’s production of Rossini's meta comedy is tightly revived with some excellent singing. Come for the writing tips, stay for the cured meats.

****1

Glyndebourne’s first Tosca: vocally strong but imperfect

David Karlin, 21st May

Ted Huffman brings some interesting ideas to his first Glyndebourne production. Excellent singing is let down by indifferent physical acting.

***11

Wretches like us: the LPO’s concert Wozzeck cuts to the quick

Peter Quantrill, 25th April

Beautifully prepared singing and playing brings out the tender side to Berg's modernist classic as part of the Southbank Centre’s Multitudes festival.

****1

Karabits and Szeps-Znaider carouse with the LPO

Christopher Woodley, 8th April

The sparkle of Max Bruch's Fecond Violin Concerto and the drama of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony overcome the gloom of Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s dark forebodings.

****1

Portraits and pictures from Ibragimova, Gardner and the LPO

Roy Westbrook, 1st April

From Three Screaming Popes to Pictures at an Exhibition, a pair of works inspired by paintings frame a violin concerto by Béla Bartók at London's Southbank Centre.

****1

Ticciati and the LPO deliver epic Sibelius plus lively Wennäkoski

Nick Boston, 25th March

Sibelius' Kullervo receives a dramatic performance from Ticciati and the LPO, with strong turns from Shenyang, Miina-Liisa Värelä and the YL Male Voice Choir.

****1

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Gus Mitchell

Gus is a recent graduate in English from Trinity College, Cambridge. He is especially attracted to music of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the piano and its history.

Debussy, Lindberg, Stravinsky and Janáček speak to war and mortality