Knussen's magic toybox: Wigglesworth, Wood and Watkins at the Guildhall School

By Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade, 07 November 2012

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Reviewed at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Music Hall, London on 4 November 2012

Knussen, Autumnal, for violin and piano

Knussen, Variations for solo piano

Knussen, Secret Psalm

Knussen, Prayer Bell Sketch

Knussen, Ophelia's Last Dance

Alexandra Wood, Violin

Ryan Wigglesworth, Piano

Huw Watkins, Piano

Revelatory Birtwistle and Beethoven from the BBC Scottish SO

Peter Quantrill, 28th July

A composer-conductor's insight yields lasting rewards in Earth Dances and the Eroica at the Royal Albert Hall.

*****

Scintillating Bruckner from Wigglesworth and the BBC Scottish

Patrick Maxwell, 27th July

Ryan Wigglesworth conducts a premiere of his own work before steering the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra through a dextrous and fascinating performance of Bruckner's Seventh Symphony.

****1

Alice Coote owns Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder at the BBC Proms

Alexander Hall, 25th July

Alice Coote imbues every word of Mahler’s deeply affecting song-cycle with expressive intensity. Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra struggle to match that achievement in Brahms and Schoenberg.

***11

BBC SSO triumphs in Bruckner and Unsuk Chin

Roy Westbrook, 20th June

At last, Bruckner conducting is no longer a specialism confined to a few Austro-German artists devoted to overcoming resistance to the composer’s greatness.

****1

Rejoicing spirits: a compelling new Magnificat by Ryan Wigglesworth

Peter Quantrill, 15th December

A concert journey from Ariadne's despair to Schumann's elation, and a compelling demonstration of Wigglesworth's gifts as both composer and conductor.

****1

Hymns ancient and modern from Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBCSO

Peter Quantrill, 22nd October

A major premiere from Romania and a Russian classic that’s forever new in a concert that struck out with a spirit of adventure at the Barbican.

*****

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Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade

Ninfea is a graduate of Magdalen College, Oxford, and is now completing an MMus degree at the Royal Academy of Music. She works as both a cellist and a composer and is committed to the performance of new works. Her website is here.