Knockout playing from the Tonkünstler in Edinburgh

By Simon Thompson, 28 October 2018

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“sensationally beautiful playing that I won’t forget in a hurry”

Reviewed at Usher Hall, Edinburgh on 28 October 2018

Bernstein, On the Town: Three Dance Episodes

Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 5 in E flat major "Emperor", Op.73

Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor "Pathétique", Op.13 (Adagio cantabile)

Sibelius, Symphony no. 5 in E flat major, Op.82

Strauss II, Tritsch Tratsch Polka, Op.214

Angela Hewitt, Piano

Tonkünstler-Orchester

Yutaka Sado, Conductor

Echoes of the Americas: Sierra and Ginastera meet Dvořák in Vienna

Chanda VanderHart, 5th April

Under the baton of Domingo Hindoyan, the Tonkünstler brings Latin America and Dvořák's New World Symphony to the Musikverein.

***11

Classy Brahms ends a fine visit from the Tonkünstler-Orchester

Nick Boston, 13th March

Effortless Brahms and rich Sibelius from Sado and the Tonkünstler-Orchester, with elegant Mozart from Yeol Eum Son at Cadogan Hall.

****1

Epic Sibelius ends from the Vienna Tonkünstler

David Karlin, 28th February

Yutaka Sado and the Tonkünstler excel in the epic passages of the Sibelius and the outer movements of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, less convincing in more lyrical moments.

***11

From Vienna to the New World

Dominic Lowe, 26th February

For the first of three concerts at the Cadogan Hall, the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra gave a heavy account of Beethoven's Piano Concerto no. 4, lightened by the graceful playing of Angela Hewitt, followed by a rich New World Symphony.

***11

Muscular Rachmaninov forged at the Anvil

David Truslove, 5th March

Eastern European folk rhythms and the spirit of fin de siècle Russia resonate through Basingstoke as the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra plays Kodály, Rachmaninov and Dvořák.

****1

James MacMillan conducts Britten, Vaughan Williams and his own music at Grafenegg

Zwölftöner, 9th September

The position of Composer in Residence at the Grafenegg festival may as well be called Composer-Conductor in Residence, as the appointments of Tan Dun, HK Gruber, and now James MacMillan have established a tradition whereby the lucky candidates are not only required to be intimately involved with the programming and preparation of their music, but also to stand in front of an orchestra and lead the

****1

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Simon Thompson

Simon lives and works in Edinburgh, and teaches History and Modern Studies at a local high school when he is not writing about music. Born an Irishman, he is an enthusiastic adopted Scot, and has lived in the capital for fifteen years since university days, making the most of its many avenues for classical music. He spends his spare time enthusing about music, theatre, art and literature to anyone who will listen, including his long-suffering students, who have no choice.