An International Composers Competition in St. Petersburg: Part 2

By Paul Kilbey, 22 April 2012

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Reviewed at Shostakovich Philharmonic Hall: Grand Hall, St Petersburg on 19 April 2012

Danilov, The Divine Liturgy for mixed choir

Larin, Calling for the Vigil

Zakharov, Eastertide

Belyaev, Three Russian Canticles

Popov, Come ye, we'll bow

Chernysheva, Gospel scenes

Opera Choir of the Mikhailovsky theatre

Vladimir Stolpovskikh, Conductor

St Petersburg Youth Chamber Choir

Yulia Khutoretskaya, Choirmaster / chorus director

New Orthodox music in a theatrical St Petersburg setting

Gavin Dixon, 7th July

Presenting new Russian Orthodox music in a theatrical setting suggests new possibilities for the tradition, most ambitiously in the field of opera.

***11

Poetry and Precision: Seong-Jin Cho returns to Carnegie Hall

Susan Stempleski, 12th April

A little over a year after his marathon all-Ravel recital at the Hall, the Korean pianist returns with an exquisitely performed program of Bach, Schoenberg, Robert Schumann, and Chopin.

*****

Marianne Crebassa: potent and versatile at Leeds Song

Richard Wilcocks, 12th April

Accompanied by Joseph Middleton, Marianne Crebassa performs an exquisite recital of Debussy, Mahler, Mompou and Ravel.

*****

A superb Salzburg sojourn: Philadelphia Orchestra plays Mozart

Cameron Kelsall, 11th April

Guest conductor Harry Bicket brings a sense of urgency to Mozart's Requiem and pulse-quickening energy to Symphony no. 40.

****1

Eroica: Riccardo Minasi and the WASO

Sandra Bowdler, 11th April

Guest conductor Riccardo Minasi leads the West Australian Symphony Orchestra with a program of old favourites, with outstanding contribution from trumpeter Jenna Smith

***11

Artistry at full throttle: Rafael Payare and the Pittsburgh Symphony

Sam Jacobson, 10th April

Can one be artful and musical while playing at maximum volume? In a program of López, Prokofiev and Stravinsky, Rafael Payare and the Pittsburgh Symphony answer a resounding yes.

*****

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Paul Kilbey

Paul was Reviews Editor at Bachtrack from 2012 to February 2014. He has written on music and culture for publications including Culture Wars, the Huffington Post, the Independent and the Guardian. He holds BA and MPhil degrees in music from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and is particularly passionate about contemporary music of all types. His website is here.