Impossible Brilliance: An Ambitious Celebration of Conlon Nancarrow

By Arthur Keegan-Bole, 24 April 2012

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Reviewed at Purcell Room, London on 21 April 2012

Nancarrow, Player Piano Study no. 13

Nancarrow, Player Piano Study no. 14

Nancarrow, Player Piano Study no. 15

Nancarrow, Player Piano Study no. 16

Nancarrow, Player Piano Study no. 17

Nancarrow, Player Piano Study no. 18

Nancarrow, Player Piano Study no. 19

Nancarrow, Player Piano Study no. 24

Nancarrow, Player Piano Study no. 31

Nancarrow, Player Piano Study no. 34

Rex Lawson, Pianola

Wolfgang Heisig, Pianola

An end-of-term Mahler 6 from the Hallé in Manchester

Rohan Shotton, 28th May

Kahchun Wong conducts The Hallé in Mahler's epic Sixth Symphony, although directorial idiosyncrasies sometimes get in the way of the music.

***11

Mallwitz and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin conquer Mahler's Fifth

Mengguang Huang, 27th May

At the Elbphilharmonie, Joana Mallwitz treats Mahler's Fifth as an argument to be won, and she knows exactly how it will end.

****1

Václav Luks and the OAE deliver operatic scale in Haydn's Creation

Nick Boston, 27th May

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Václav Luks are joined by their own choir and strong soloists for a fresh and colourful performance of Haydn's Die Schöpfung.

****1

Lost for words: Asmik Grigorian excels at Wigmore Hall

Roy Westbrook, 26th May

A first half of vocalises gives way to all Strauss after the interval as the Lithuanian superstar soprano helps Wigmore Hall celebrate its 125th anniversary.

****1

A self-congratulatory Cecilia Bartoli show at Salzburg Whitsun

Laura Servidei, 24th May

This year’s Salzburg Whitsun Festival gala, Ciao, bella ciao, features Cecilia Bartoli in a highly personalised musical programme structured as an autobiographical journey, unfolding as a blend of concert and self-portrait.

Sumptuous Sheffield Chamber Music Festival finale

Phil Parker, 23rd May

Ensemble 360 and soprano Claire Booth test to the limits the definition of ‘chamber music’ in this richly orchestral closing concert of the 2026 Sheffield Chamber Music Festival.

****1

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Arthur Keegan-Bole

Arthur is a composer currently focusing on opera. His desire to promote contemporary music led him to set up and co-edit The Octogenarian, a light-hearted classical music review pamphlet distributed in Bristol and to curate the annual CMV series of concerts.