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

Benedetti ablaze with the Philharmonia

Christopher Woodley, 19th April

As gifts to the Philarmonia's 80th birthday season, Nicola Benedetti gives a barnstorming account of Elgar's Violin Concerto before Cristian Mӑcelaru gets emotionally drained by La Mer.

*****

Nicholas McGegan brings delicacy and elegance to Mendelssohn

Erica Miner, 18th April

The Seattle Symphony offers an enchanting evening immersed in the joy and brilliance of both the young and the mature genius of Felix Mendelssohn.

****1

Wrangling the octopus: Mahler’s Ninth with Sir Simon Rattle

Chanda VanderHart, 17th April

Less a symphony, more a force of nature, Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Vienna Philharmonic in a turbulent, yet spacious reading of Mahler's Ninth Symphony in the Musikverein.

****1

Picture postcard Spain from the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia

Phil Parker, 17th April

Vibrant, colourful music is played with every last ounce of enthusiasm as the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia rounds off its UK tour at Sheffield City Hall.

****1

Tarmo Peltokoski conducts the Hallé in Mahler and Vaughan Williams

Leighton Jones, 16th April

Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder provide an apt, if somewhat unexpected, partner to Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony in Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.

****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