Minimalism with maximum impact

By Mark Thomas, 25 May 2016

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Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 24 May 2016

Reich, Mallet Quartet

Reich, Quartet, for 2 vibraphones and 2 pianos

Reich, Music for 18 musicians

Colin Currie Group, Percussion

Synergy Vocals

Nail-biting Shostakovich from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Dominic Lowe, 15th August

Before a searing performance of Shostakovich's Thirteenth from Ryan Bancroft and his Welsh forces, Benjamin Grosvenor delivers a terrific performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major.

****1

Farewell, Sir Andrew: the Proms pays tribute in fitting style

Peter Quantrill, 30th August

Lovingly detailed accounts of music dear to the heart of the late master of ceremonies at the Proms.

*****

Reich premiere at the center of an evening of unexpected pleasures

Kurt Gottschalk, 6th October

Jacob's Ladder receives its world premiere, sandwiches by two staples of the 19th-century Romantic repertoire.

****1

A British take on New York minimalism: Steve Reich at Carnegie Hall

Kurt Gottschalk, 1st November

The Colin Currie Group and Synergy Vocals present an evening of music by Steve Reich at Carnegie Hall, including the US premiere of Traveler's Prayer.

****1

All Reich on the Night with the London Sinfonietta

Benjamin Poore, 12th February

Exemplary performances of classic works by the American minimalist from the London Sinfonietta

****1

Steve Reich at 80: cross-section of an iconic career

Phil Barrett, 5th November

From the ultimate process piece, to a recent video-opera, this central concert of the Barbican's 'Steve Reich at 80' weekend reminded us what the fuss has been all about.

****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).

Minimalism with maximum impact: luminous Reich from the Colin Currie Group