Sofia’s Choice: Gubaidulina at 80 at the Royal Academy of Music

Royal Academy of Music Chamber Ensemble Trevor Pinnock conductor Runette Botha sopranoHaydn (arr. Salomon) Symphony Quintetto (after Symphony No. 101 The Clock) for flute, string quartet and piano (ed. Christopher Hogwood)Mahler (arr. Stein) Symphony No. 4 in GThis was quite simply a delightful concert. The juxtaposition of these two pared-down symphonies was a brilliant idea superbly executed.

Donald Nally’s much vaunted chamber choir The Crossing give a program of three New York premieres at Zankel Hall. 

Viktoria Mullova is a superb soloist in Brahms' Violin Concerto, while an orchestra full of soloists play Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra with Kahchun Wong presiding. 

At 92NY, the JACK Quartet performs four new works developed in their JACK Studio, including a commissioned premiere from the electrifying Tristan Perich.

In Dublin, Jean-Luc Tingaud and Louis Lortie bring clarity and purpose to two composers often ill at ease with the orchestra.

Kristiina Poska directs the RSNO in gripping Tchaikovsky and Pärt, but words and music only occasionally match in Elena Langer's new song cycle.