Magnificent Rachmaninov tribute from Lugansky and Denève in Ghent

By Marc Haegeman, 06 April 2019

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“fabulous music-making and it came from the heart”

Reviewed at Muziekcentrum De Bijloke: Concertzaal, Ghent on 4 April 2019

Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto no. 1 in F sharp minor, Op.1

Rachmaninov, Symphony no. 3 in A minor, Op.44

Moussa, Nocturne

Stéphane Denève, Conductor

Nikolai Lugansky, Piano

Brussels Philharmonic

Pressing the “pause life” button with Arvo Pärt in Brussels

Zenaida des Aubris, 15th May

Kristjan Järvi conducts the Brussels Philharmonic and the Vlaams Radiokoor in a programme of Arvo Pärt's music.

****1

Magisterial performance of Feldman's Rothko Chapel in Brussels

Timothy Robson, 6th November

Part of Brussels' Ars Musica festival, the concert also included a fun world premiere by Claire-Mélanie Sinnhuber, and the riveting Streaming Arhythmia by Anna Thorvaldsdottir.

****1

Luminous Beethoven and impetuous Connesson in Bruges

Marc Haegeman, 1st March

Denève and the Brussels Philharmonic launched into Guillaume Connesson’s Flammenschrift with enough excitement and energy to illuminate the whole city.

***11

An unfussy, memorable War Requiem from Noseda

Nicolas Nguyen, 11th October

Gianandrea Noseda conducts the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Netherlands Radio Choir and an ideal team of soloists in a memorable performance of Britten's War Requiem.

****1

Fiery, formidable Boris Godunov at the Concertgebouw

Jenny Camilleri, 8th September

This year’s NTR ZaterdagMatinee concert series in Amsterdam kicked off with a Boris Godunov that left nothing to be desired.

*****

Joyful, showy Bernstein at Cadogan Hall

Benjamin Poore, 31st May

Exuberance and reflection from the Brussels Philharmonic in a celebration of Leonard Bernstein.

****1

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Marc Haegeman

Marc Haegeman graduated as a historian from the University of Ghent. He developed a keen interest in music, ballet, photography and nature. As a dance writer and photographer he contributed to leading dance magazines in the last 20 years, including The Dancing Times, Dance International and Ballet2000, and has been working with companies worldwide. His classical music reviews appeared in Classical Net and on his blog I used mostly my ears. He is particularly interested in Russian music and the piano. When free, he loves spending time in nature, photographing landscapes and wildlife.