Nonclassical at Scala

By Jonathan Russell, 19 November 2013

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Reviewed at The Scala, London on 16 November 2013

Programme to include:

Reich, Drumming

Varèse, Ionisation, for percussion

Bartók, Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion, Sz.110

Crumb, Music for a Summer Evening (Makrokosmos III)

Cowell, Ostinato Pianissimo

Rust, Skeims

Cage, Credo in US

Cage, Child of Tree

Prokofiev, 9 Triangles

Roldán, Ritmica no. 1, for wind quintet and piano

Prokofiev, Import/Export, suite for global junk

Xenakis, Okho

Álvarez, Temazcal

Abass Dodoo One Drum, Drums

Shahbaz Hussain, Tabla

Southbank Gamelan Ensemble

Junk Orchestra, Percussion

Dumtak

Joji Hirota, Drums

Leon Michener, Piano

Conviction, passion and clarity: Sir Stephen Hough at Wigmore Hall

Christopher Woodley, 19th May

Fragments by Brahms, Schoenberg and Schubert orbit Beethoven's Waldstein and Schumann's Carnaval in another masterful recital from Sir Stephen Hough.

****1

Spellbinding Gewandhausorchester Leipzig in Vienna’s Musikverein

Chanda VanderHart, 18th May

In Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto, Yulianna Avdeeva commands attention through sheer innate charisma, anchored in intense engagement.

*****

Lucas and Arthur Jussen: a virtuoso pairing at Prague Spring

Frank Kuznik, 17th May

Lucas and Arthur Jussen make more than a guest appearance in a dazzling performance with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

****1

Edward Gardner makes a distinctive debut at the Pittsburgh Symphony

Sam Jacobson, 17th May

Edward Gardner’s Pittsburgh Symphony debut brings freshness and intensity to Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, alongside a sparkling tribute to Michael Tilson Thomas.

****1

Ensemble 360 illuminates the gathering darkness in Sheffield

Phil Parker, 17th May

Nightfall in Sheffield General Cemetery provides the perfect atmospheric backdrop for Ensemble 360’s exploration of chamber music by Mozart, Weber and Korngold.

****1

Brighton Philharmonic play their socks off at the Brighton Festival

Nick Boston, 17th May

Joanna MacGregor and the BPO pull off an excellent performance of Shostakovich's Tenth, alongside William Kentridge's evocative film, Oh to Believe in Another World.

****1

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Jonathan Russell

Jonathan Russell is a London-based composer, clarinetist, conductor, and educator, active in music ranging from classical to contemporary to klezmer. He is a member of the Edmund Welles bass clarinet quartet and the Sqwonk bass clarinet duo, and co-founded San Francisco’s Switchboard Music Festival. He holds degrees from Harvard University and San Francisco Conservatory, and is a PhD Candidate at Princeton University.

Nonclassical rocks the house at Scala