Dvořák, Brahms and bouquets to close the Prague Spring Festival

By Frank Kuznik, 06 June 2014

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“There was not a hint of calculation, guile or ego in her style, just a sunny openness”

Reviewed at Municipal House: Smetana Hall, Prague on 3 June 2014

Brahms, Violin Concerto in D major, Op.77

Dvořák, Symphony no. 8 in G major, Op.88

Frankfurt Radio Symphony

Hilary Hahn, Violin

Paavo Järvi, Conductor

Altinoglu and Rachlin reveal the dark side of the 20th-century ethos

Edward Sava-Segal, 8th September

At the George Enescu International Festival, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony plays music without consolation by Sibelius and Shostakovich.

****1

A boisterous opening at the Dvořák Prague Festival

Frank Kuznik, 5th September

Alain Altinoglu and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra leave a lot to the imagination in a fiery treatment of two signature Dvořák works.

***11

French rarities from Alain Altinoglu and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony

Alexander Hall, 21st March

On paper this looked entrancing: a French conductor with Armenian roots assaying a score of oriental splendour. It was the first half, however, with Dutilleux and Debussy that satisfied more.

***11

Andrés Orozco-Estrada gives farewell concert with the Frankfurt RSO

Alexander Hall, 27th June

Partnering Augustin Hadelich in the Sibelius Violin Concerto and directing two works by Mendelssohn, Andrés Orozco-Estrada doesn't quite temper acoustic problems associated with the ecclesiastical venue.

****1

Sergey Malov makes the case for “off the shoulder” Boccherini

Laurence Vittes, 28th January

In a world of Sergey Malovs the violoncello da spalla could have been a contender.

****1

A Greek connection: Constantinos Carydis in Frankfurt

Alexander Hall, 14th January

In this musical journey the Greek conductor Constantinos Carydis takes you to Athens and Crete, while Igor Levit explores Apollonian qualities in Mozart.

***11

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Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.