Unfamiliar Russians break the routine

By Andrew Morris, 18 November 2017

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“Without the weight of biography, the music enchants with its colours”

Reviewed at Bristol Beacon: Beacon Hall, Bristol on 16 November 2017

Glazunov, From the Middle Ages, suite for orchestra, Op.79: Overture

Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 3 in C minor, Op.37

Chopin, Nocturne no. 2 in E flat major, Op.9 no.2

Tchaikovsky, Suite no. 3 in G major, for orchestra, Op.55

David Fray, Piano

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Kirill Karabits, Conductor

Ning Feng’s Korngold is not quite a “Hollywood hit” in Poole

David Truslove, 26th November

Sian Edwards takes the helm of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in Britten, Korngold and Dvořák, with mixed results.

***11

A Prom of two halves: Mark Wigglesworth and the Bournemouth SO

Leighton Jones, 20th July

The BSO play a trio of 20th-century greats — Ravel and Shostakovich both taking inspiration from the age of jazz, while Walton’s First Symphony provides contrast.

***11

Die Fledermaus at The Grange: Cabaret meets G&S

David Karlin, 20th June

A fine singing cast gives creditable performances in Johann Stauss II's most famous operetta, but Paul Curran's updating of Act 2 to 1930s Berlin takes the fizz out of the Champagne.

***11

Alena Baeva delivers transcendent Berg at The Anvil

David Truslove, 25th January

Polished playing and inspirational performances in Basingstoke that underline the exciting relationship between Mark Wigglesworth and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

*****

The Rake's Progress at The Grange: richly entertaining

David Karlin, 23rd June

Singing performances are excellent, the staging is well crafted and Stravinsky's eclectic score entertains from start to finish. But it's an evening's opera that doesn't touch the soul.

****1

Voices from the East: a musical marathon with a gripping finish

Peter Quantrill, 19th May

Kirill Karabits and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra present a day of composers from the former Soviet republics with heroic skill and stamina.

****1

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Andrew Morris

Andrew is a writer and teacher whose work has appeared in The Strad and International Record Review. He is particularly interested in Russian music and the violin. He also writes about music at his blog Devil's Trill and can also be found on Twitter at @devilstrillblog.

Unfamiliar Russians break the routine with Karabits and the Bournemouth SO in Bristol