Bluster and conviction from Argerich and Barenboim

By Mark Thomas, 13 August 2019

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“Argerich showed granite determination and magical delicacy”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 12 August 2019

Schubert, Symphony no. 8 in B minor "Unfinished", D.759

Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto no. 1 in B flat minor, Op.23

Lutosławski, Concerto for Orchestra

Beethoven, Egmont, Op.84: Overture

Martha Argerich, Piano

West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Daniel Barenboim, Conductor

Joy and hope from Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Chris Garlick, 4th November

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra are on fire with the joy of music-making to the delight of a very sympathetic and enthusiastic audience at London's Southbank Centre.

*****

Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan return to the BBC Proms

Asher Rubenstein, 11th August

Marking 25 years of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim returns to the Proms with violin legend Anne-Sophie Mutter.

***11

West-Eastern Divan Orchestra shows its stars at the Salzburg Festival

Alexander Hall, 13th August

Daniel Barenboim offered an unusually Germanic take on César Franck, while section leaders Michael Barenboim and Kian Soltani pulled double duty as soloists in Brahms' Double Concerto.

****1

BTHVN 2020 celebrated in Bonn by Barenboim and the WEDO

Zoltán Szabó, 17th December

A mixed performance from Bonn, but there was magic from Barenboim's fingers in the Third Piano Concerto.

***11

Resounding: Barenboim brings music back to the Pierre Boulez Saal

Hugo Shirley, 14th August

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra presents a superb programme executed with power and urgency to herald the return of public music-making at the Pierre Boulez Saal.

*****

Between two worlds with Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan

Matthew Rye, 14th August

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra’s Prom with Daniel Barenboim went in search of identity and found ecstasy

****1

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Mark Thomas

A lifelong devotee of classical music, Mark caught the bug after listening to The Planets, The Rite of Spring and Beethoven’s Fifth when he was knee-high to a grasshopper. He has degrees in non-musical subjects and currently works as a Chartered Governance Professional, but these have proved to be mere distractions from the wonders of sonatas, concertos and symphonies. He has been reviewing for Bachtrack since 2016, plays viola and violin (very shakily) and used to sing a bit (even more shakily).

Prom 34: Bluster and conviction from Argerich and Barenboim with West-Eastern Divan Orchestra