Celebratory Mahler 3 from the The Royal Academy of Music and Bychkov

Stephanie Wake-Edwards, Semyon Bychkov and the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra

Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra and Chorus

By Roy Westbrook, 24 June 2022

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“Bychkov commanded our attention through every paragraph towards the final blazing apotheosis”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 23 June 2022

Mahler, Symphony no. 3 in D minor

Semyon Bychkov, Conductor

Stephanie Wake-Edwards, Mezzo-soprano

Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra

Royal Academy of Music Chorus

The Royal Academy's Carmen has too many what-if moments

Dominic Lowe, 18th November

Presenting a work like Carmen is a punchy move by a conservatoire. The Royal Academy of Music's production has conceptual weaknesses, but features some good singing.

***11

Royal Academy Opera stages a magical Zauberflöte

Mark Valencia, 18th March

A lyrical yet zesty account of Mozart's' adorable score, in a production that is on the nose and off the wall.

****1

A dystopian Hansel und Gretel at the RAM

Mark Valencia, 20th November

Jack Furness serves up an unappetising mess of Humperdinck's delicious masterpiece for Royal Academy Opera.

***11

Prom 6: Impressive and inspiring Anglo-American cooperation

Nick Boston, 22nd July

The Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music and The Julliard School, with Edward Gardner in an impressively ambitious programme, with tragic Britten from James Ehnes, and a remarkable UK premiere from Anna Thorvaldsdottir.

****1

The Royal Academy's Carmen has too many what-if moments

Dominic Lowe, 18th November

Presenting a work like Carmen is a punchy move by a conservatoire. The Royal Academy of Music's production has conceptual weaknesses, but features some good singing.

***11

Sol Gabetta bares her soul in Elgar on Czech Phil tour

Clare Varney, 23rd April

Semyon Bychkov conducts the Czech Phil on their latest European tour with the music of Elgar and Stravinsky.

****1

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.

Celebratory Mahler 3 from the The Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra and Bychkov