Wandering through musical and cultural history in Istanbul's Samatya

By Benjamin Poore, 17 June 2019

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“a diaphanous last movement seemed to radiate out from the golden halos of the icons around the altar”

Reviewed at Narlıkapı Surp Hovhannes Armenian Church, Istanbul on 16 June 2019

Herzog, Missa Lux Caelestis: Kyrie

Schein, Die mit tränen säen

Bruckner, Locus Iste, gradual, WAB 23

Buchenberg, Erbarme dich unser

Brahms, Letztes Glück (Last Luck), Op.104 no.3

Mendelssohn, Herbstlied, Op.63 no.4

Donati, Noche

Mahler, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen: Die zwei blauen Augen von meinem Schatz

Orhon, Istanbul (Turkish premiere)

Uçarsu, Sevgilerde

Bonato, Winding words of wisdom

Rezonans

Sumptuous Sheffield Chamber Music Festival finale

Phil Parker, 23rd May

Ensemble 360 and soprano Claire Booth test to the limits the definition of ‘chamber music’ in this richly orchestral closing concert of the 2026 Sheffield Chamber Music Festival.

****1

More gold than corn: María Dueñas plays Korngold at the Barbican

Mark Pullinger, 22nd May

The young Spanish violinist proves an ardent advocate for a work originally dismissed as a “Hollywood Concerto” as the BBC Symphony Orchestra closes its Barbican season.

****1

Heavenly Mahler – and Strauss – from Lucy Crowe and the LSO

Roy Westbrook, 21st May

Songs and symphonies from Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra, concluding with a vision of “heavenly life” from Gustav Mahler.

****1

Intimate colossus: Daniil Trifonov with the Rotterdam Philharmonic

Max Lima, 21st May

Late Brahms, early Schoenberg: under Lahav Shani and the Rotterdam Philharmonic draw tenderness from two monumental scores.

****1

The ears have it: Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas on the Cutty Sark

Mark Valencia, 21st May

Come away fellow sailors, your anchors be weighing! All board the Cutty Sark for a semi-staging of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists.

****1

Memorable Mendelssohn from Marek Janowski and the New York Phil

Susan Stempleski, 21st May

Principal Trumpet Christopher Martin plays Haydn before the esteemed German maestro conducts a vibrant Scottish Symphony.

****1

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Benjamin Poore

Benjamin Poore is a writer and critic. His book on psychoanalysis and literature is forthcoming in 2019. He has previously written about literature and culture for the Independent, the Times Literary Supplement, and Times Higher Education. In his spare time he tries to sing Schubert; he has a very patient teacher.