An illuminating yuletide journey in Seattle

By Thomas May, 13 December 2015

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“a lovely, unusual perspective on the yuletide ritual”

Reviewed at First Baptist Church, Seattle on 12 December 2015

Rautavaara, Marjatan jouluvirsi

Mäntyjärvi, Psalm 150

Works by Kreek

Tormis, Nature Pictures: Northern Lights

Rehnqvist, Night on Our Earth

Grieg, Ave Maris Stella

Ešenvalds, Northern Lights

Works by Traditional

Seattle Pro Musica

Karen P. Thomas, Conductor

Chroma Chamber Choir

Strange beauty: Berlioz's Requiem in Seattle

Thomas May, 9th November

Continuing his celebration of the music of Hector Berlioz with the Seattle Symphony, Ludovic Morlot leads an enthralling performance of the epic Requiem.

****1

Redemption and musical caffeine: Nelsons conducts Mahler 8 in Vienna

Mark Pullinger, 10th May

Sunday morning Mahler at the Wiener Konzerthaus sees Andris Nelsons concluding his symphony cycle with the Vienna Philharmonic in shattering fashion.

****1

Expressive 18th-century music from the Belgrade Philharmonic

Peter Connors, 8th May

Julien Chauvin leads the Belgrade Philharmonic in spirited performances of varied music by CPE Bach and Haydn, with local star flautist Ana Kaličanin Radivojević as soloist.

****1

An au courant odyssey with the Czech Philharmonic in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 7th May

Conducted by Semyon Bychkov, the Czech Philharmonic shows its versatility with a sharp, smart evening of modern music.

****1

Classical grace and Romantic eloquence from the Philharmonia

Christopher Woodley, 7th May

The contrasting delights of Schumann, Brahms and Dvořák are powerfully evoked in performances of charm, eloquence and high drama from the Philharmonia, continuing the orchestra’s 80th anniversary celebrations.

****1

Russian Spring: Elder and the Hallé reunite in glorious style

Leighton Jones, 7th May

The music of Glinka, Stravinsky, Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky fills Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall with mystery, intrigue and jollity.

****1

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Thomas May

Thomas May is a writer and translator based in Seattle. His books include Decoding Wagner and The John Adams Reader, and he blogs about the arts at memeteria.com. He has written for The Washington Post, Gramophone, Listen, Symphony magazine, OPERA America, crosscut.com, and many other publications.

Aurora chorealis: Seattle Pro Musica takes audience on an illuminating yuletide journey