Barry Douglas majestic with below par Czech NSO

By Mark Thomas, 19 April 2018

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“The tempestuous Allegro con fuoco was filled with purpose”

Reviewed at Cadogan Hall, London on 18 April 2018

Schubert, Symphony no. 5 in B flat major, D.485

Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 5 in E flat major "Emperor", Op.73

Dvořák, Symphony no. 9 in E minor, "From the New World", Op.95

Czech National Symphony Orchestra

Barry Douglas, Piano

Jan Chalupecky, Conductor

An online Beethovenathon: all nine symphonies across Europe in one day

Alexander Hall, 6th June

An all-day Beethoven experience European style with both highs and lows: much diversity revealed and exploited but of variable quality.

***11

Magnificent Pavel Kolesnikov outshines the CNSO

Elisabeth Schwarz, 16th April

Pavel Kolesnikov was at the heart and soul of a disappointing concert by the touring Czech orchestra.

**111

Stately Dvořák from the Czech National Symphony

Dominic Lowe, 9th November

An impressive performance from cellist Natalie Clein in Dvořák’s Cello Concerto did much to alleviate the woes of the real world.

***11

Chloë Hanslip with Czech National Symphony Orchestra in Bristol

Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres, 15th November

On walking into the foyer of Colston Hall, I was greeted by the sound of a jazz band playing The Girl from Ipanema. This was not quite what I expected from the Colston Hall’s “Symphony Project”, but nevertheless a tasteful and welcoming opening, that created a cheerful atmosphere.

***11

At Prague’s National Theatre, a witty, well-kept Smetana Secret

Frank Kuznik, 24th May

Aided by spirited singers and enthusiastic musicians, director Ondřej Havelka brings an imaginative, ironic touch to a lesser-known Smetana opera.

*****

The Nutcracker gets Scrooged at Prague’s National Theatre

Gianmarco Segato, 30th December

Youri Vámos’s mash up of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol makes for a devilishly Victorian take on Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic.

***11

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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).

Barry Douglas majestic with below par Czech National Symphony Orchestra