Shimmering, disjointed: Poppe and Ligeti in Lucerne

Sarah Maria Sun

François-Xavier Roth conducts Les Siècles

Isabelle Faust and Les Siècles

By Elodie Olson-Coons, 08 September 2023

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“ghosts of melodies arcing in and out, disintegrating at the edges”

Reviewed at Culture and Congress Centre: Concert Hall, Lucerne on 7 September 2023

Poppe, Öl for ensemble

Poppe, Augen

Ligeti, Violin Concerto

Les Siècles

François-Xavier Roth, Conductor

Sarah Maria Sun, Soprano

Isabelle Faust, Violin

Christof Loy’s understated Werther at the TCE

David Karlin, 22nd March

Massenet’s take on Goethe’s blockbuster novella of unrequited love and suicide is handled with great subtlety by Christof Loy and Marc Leroy-Calatayud. Benjamin Bernheim and Marina Viotti lead a starry vocal cast.

****1

Mixed performances in Ligeti and Mozart from Les Siècles

David Truslove, 20th August

Three concertos and a symphony made for an unusual but generous programme, but Les Siècles illustrate that versatility can come with mixed blessings.

***11

A stunning Barbican debut by Les Siècles

Roy Westbrook, 20th June

Marking their 20th anniversary with a celebratory tour, Les Siècles perform French classics at the Barbican under their twinkle-toed founder, François-Xavier Roth.

*****

Paris 1913 brought to life by Les Siècles and François-Xavier Roth

David Smythe, 16th August

Two works premiered in Paris in 1913 – Lili Boulanger's Faust et Hélène and Stravinsky The Rite of Spring – excite the Edinburgh International Festival audience... but spark no riots.

****1

An exotic banquet to savour from Les Siècles

Mark Pullinger, 16th August

It was truly magnifique to welcome French period instrument orchestra Les Siècles and François-Xavier Roth to the BBC Proms for a highly perfumed programme of exotic sweetmeats.

*****

For whom the bell tolls at the Opéra Comique

Mark Pullinger, 9th June

Palazzetto Bru Zane, spurred on by the zealous advocacy of conductor François-Xavier Roth, has turned to Saint-Saëns' very first opera, Le Timbre d'argent.

***11

More reviews...

Elodie Olson-Coons

Originaire de Lorraine, Elodie Olson-Coons a fait ses études littéraires à Cambridge. Mezzo-soprano et pianiste, elle est particulièrement intéressée par la musique contemporaine et vocale.