Prague Spring plugs in and lights up

By Frank Kuznik, 31 May 2017

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“a kaleidoscope of hums, whistles, roars, rumbles, percussion and an occasional recognizable chord”

Reviewed at National Technical Museum, Prague on 29 May 2017

Reich, New York Counterpoint

Rataj, Sentenceless Sentence

Goebbels, Bagatellen (Czech première)

Trojan, Circulation (World première)

Karel Dohnal, Clarinet

Miro Tóth, Saxophone

David Danel, Violin

Jan Trojan, Electronics

Bamberger Symphoniker: Wenn Töne aussagen, was Worte nicht fassen

Michael Vieth, 19th January

Brillante Solisten in Konzerten von Copland und Martinů sind die symphonischen Erzähler eines abwechslungsreichen Konzertabends der Bamberger Symphoniker unter Leitung von Jakub Hrůša

****1

Black American music finds a new voice at the Concertgebouw

Clare Varney, 18th June

Dutch premieres, new faces and new arrangements result in a concert quite unlike any other from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Antony Hermus.

****1

Apollonian radiance and women scorned: the Britten Sinfonia at Snape

Roy Westbrook, 18th June

Hell holds no fury like a woman scorned, and it was certainly so in Greek mythology, celebrated in this outstanding Aldeburgh Festival performance by the Britten Sinfonia and Helen Charlston.

*****

Improvisatory Gershwin from Ryan Wang with Chromatica Orchestra

Nick Boston, 17th June

Energetic yet atmospheric performances from Chromatica Orchestra, with Ingunn Korsgård Hagen providing firm yet spirited direction.

****1

A perfect landing with Harding and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra

Mengguang Huang, 17th June

Håkan Hardenberger joins the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Daniel Harding for a thrilling night concluding with a breathtaking, high-energy Beethoven Four.

****1

Poise over fire: McGegan, Chen and the Orchestra of St Luke’s

Edward Sava-Segal, 16th June

A late substitution turns a violinist-led showcase into a polished, orchestra-centred Bach Festival evening at Carnegie Hall.

***11

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Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.