Strong chamber performances win admiration in Seattle

By Erica Miner, 04 July 2019

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Reviewed at Benaroya Hall: Nordstrom Recital Hall, Seattle on 3 July 2019

Beethoven, Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola in D major, Op.25

Turina, Piano Quartet in A minor, Op.67

Mendelssohn, Piano Trio no. 1 in D minor, Op.49

Lorna McGhee, Flute

Andrew Wan, Violin

Matthew Lipman, Viola

Kristóf Baráti, Violin

David Harding, Viola

Ani Aznavoorian, Cello

Piers Lane, Piano

James Ehnes, Violin

Robert DeMaine, Cello

Orion Weiss, Piano

Piers Lane finds diversity of mood in Chopin's Nocturnes

Simon Holden, 9th March

It was clear that there is much more to Lane’s conception of these works than mere surface beauty.

****1

Afternoon delight? Sydney Symphony plays Beethoven and Brahms

David Larkin, 17th June

An afternoon programme by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra featuring Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Brahms' Third and shorter pieces by Schreker and Harry Sdraulig offers pleasant but somewhat underwhelming impressions.

***11

One last time: Tasmin Little bids farewell to the Southbank Centre

Stephen Pritchard, 22nd October

Little had planned to quit in August, but Covid-19 threw all her concert plans into disarray, but last night took a significant step towards the exit, bidding farewell to London’s Southbank Centre.

*****

Definitive Walton from Andrew Manze and the LPO

Chris Garlick, 11th March

What an auspicious first outing for Andrew Manze with the LPO, concluding with a definitive account of Walton's First Symphony.

****1

Markus Schäfer sings Lieder at Wigmore Hall

Edward Whitney, 17th February

The intimacy of Schubert’s Lieder almost guarantees that no words can be missed. In comparison to say, a 100-strong choir competing with a full orchestra, the poetic element of Lieder is unmissable, and thus it occupies a larger part of the concertgoer’s attention. Schubert of course recognised this, and selected his wordsmiths carefully.

****1

Beethoven, Vine and Shostakovich from Sinaisky and the LPO

David Karlin, 17th October

At first sight, last night’s London Philharmonic Orchestra concert at the Royal Festival Hall was a typical piece of programming: a well known, relatively undemanding opener, a big symphony to close, and a première of a newly written work sandwiched carefully in between.

****1

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Erica Miner

As a Metropolitan Opera violinist Erica performed with James Levine, Leonard Bernstein and countless opera luminaries. Now an award-winning author, screenwriter, arts journalist and lecturer, Erica’s opera presentations include Wagner Societies in California, New York, Boston, North Carolina and Sydney, Australia. Her recently released novel Aria for Murder, the first in her ‘Operatic Mystery’ series, authentically reflects her experiences in the Met Orchestra. Sequels are due in 2023 and 2024. Erica’s personal website is here.