Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra debuts at the BBC Proms

Keri-Lynn Wilson and the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra

Anna Fedorova, Keri-Lynn Wilson and the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra

By Leighton Jones, 01 August 2022

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“Wilson conducted with poise, dignity and communicative musical prowess”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 31 July 2022

Silvestrov, Symphony no. 7

Chopin, Piano Concerto no. 2 in F minor, Op.21

Beethoven, Fidelio, Op.72: Abscheulicher, wo eislt du hin ... Komm, Hoffnung

Brahms, Symphony no. 4 in E minor, Op.98

Liudmyla Monastyrska, Soprano

Anna Fedorova, Piano

Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Conductor

Exciting debut elevates Met Opera The Queen of Spades

Cameron Kelsall, 4th June

Galina Cheplakova steps in for Sonya Yoncheva in the penultimate performance of this revival, winning over the audience with vocal clarity and dramatic commitment.

***11

Power and vulnerability: COC revives Madama Butterfly

Michelle Assay, 24th January

The Toronto revival of Michael Grandage’s straightforward but elegant production shields Puccini’s genius from contemporary critiques.

****1

A toy-box of tyranny: Shostakovich, Stalin and Kentridge collide

Kurt Gottschalk, 7th December

Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony is a massive and aptly complicated work to which William Kentridge’s film adds contextual layers of stop-motion animation and vintage footage in a surreal nightmare of tyranny.

****1

Beneath the ice: a triumphant revival of ENO's Jenůfa

Dominic Lowe, 13th March

David Alden's production is a vivid telling of Janáček's devastating village drama. With a terrific cast and a splendid performance from the pit, this revival is an unalloyed artistic success.

****1

Impressive Royal Opera debut by Ruzan Mantashyan in Bohème revival

Stephen Pritchard, 24th January

The Armenian soprano sweeps all before her in a delightfully controlled, touching performance, enhanced by a voice that would melt the stoniest of hearts.

****1

Keri-Lynn Wilson leads an irrepressible Lady Macbeth at the Met

Robert Levine, 29th September

Making her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, the wife of Met GM Peter Gelb crushes any talk of nepotism at the downbeat.

*****

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Leighton Jones

Leighton has extensive teaching experience from early years to postgraduate level music. Currently he works as a primary music specialist, visiting instrumental teacher and examiner. As a pianist, he was inspired to play after hearing Moura Lympany at a young age and has a large collection of her recordings. Leighton’s postgraduate studies focussed on his interest in 20th-century English orchestral music, with particular study of Britten, Rawsthorne, Walton and Vaughan Williams. A keen choral singer he has developed a comprehensive knowledge of chiefly British choral music.