Unexpected promise: Bryce Dessner at the Elbphilharmonie

By Sam Johnstone, 22 October 2017

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Reviewed at Elbphilharmonie: Grand Hall, Hamburg on 20 October 2017

Dessner, El Chan

Dessner, Deauville

Glass, Four Movements for Two Pianos

Dessner, St Carolyn by the Sea

Dessner, Quilting

Abrahamsen, Stratifications

Katia Labèque, Piano

Marielle Labèque, Piano

Symphoniker Hamburg – Laeiszhalle Orchester

Bryce Dessner, Guitar

Aaron Dessner, Guitar

Alan Pierson, Conductor

Revolutionary voices in Hamburg with Sylvain Cambreling

Alexander Hall, 25th May

Three aspects of fate were on display in this intriguing combination of the new, the less familiar and the unashamedly popular given by the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra under its chief conductor.

****1

German Romanticism from Argerich, Cambreling and Symphoniker Hamburg

Alexander Hall, 21st November

The octogenarian phenomenon that is Martha Argerich still has something different to say about Schumann's Piano Concerto, while Sylvain Cambreling adopts a bright and breezy approach to Schubert's Ninth Symphony.

***11

A pianist for all seasons: Argerich crowns festival with a debut

Mark Pullinger, 30th June

Martha Argerich gives a rare solo performance in the final programme of her festival, performing movements from Tchaikovsky's The Seasons for the very first time.

Catriona Morison joins Martha Argerich in outstanding performances

Edward Sava-Segal, 20th June

An enjoyable first live stream of the 2021 edition of the Martha Argerich Festival in Hamburg's Laeiszhalle.

****1

Martha Argerich brings magical Ravel to Hamburg

Chris Garlick, 19th February

A performance of Ravel's concerto to savour as a beacon of light and hope in these dark times.

*****

Argerich, Dutoit and Russian revelry in Hamburg

Alexander Hall, 28th June

Argerich is predictably a force of nature in Tchaikovsky and Dutoit shows his mettle in Ravel and Stravinsky.

****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