Thumbs up for Denis Matsuev's all-Russian concert at Koerner Hall

By Stanley Fefferman, 04 December 2012

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Reviewed at The Royal Conservatory of Music, TELUS Centre, Koerner Hall, Toronto on 2 December 2012

Tchaikovsky, Les Saisons (The Seasons) for piano, Op.37a or Op.37b

Rachmaninov, Prelude in G minor, Op.23 no.5

Rachmaninov, Prelude in G sharp minor, Op.32 no.12

Tchaikovsky, Méditation, Op.72 no.5

Tchaikovsky, Dumka - Russian rustic scene in C minor for piano, Op.59

Stravinsky, Three movements from Petrushka

Denis Matsuev, Piano

Suntory Hall hosts the Vienna Philharmonic in exceptional times

Nahoko Gotoh, 10th November

"Is the Vienna Philharmonic coming or not?" This had been the talk of town amongst classical music fans in Japan since September, when its concert scene regained some semblance of normality.

*****

The LSO find their Russian Roots in Shostakovich

David Karlin, 31st October

Technically impressive pianism from Denis Matsuev doesn't click with Noseda and the LSO, but Shostakovich 6 is delivered with verve.

***11

A rich and powerful spectrum: Chailly conducts Rachmaninov in Lucerne

Sarah Batschelet, 16th August

In an all-Rachmaninov evening, Riccardo Chailly and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra open the 2019 festival with a brilliant exploration of the relation of music to power.

*****

Virtuosic balance of power and delicacy at Ravinia Festival

Claire Liu, 7th August

Showcases of pure virtuosity by Denis Matsuev and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under Leonard Slatkin, in performances of both Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade at Ravinia.

****1

Rachmaninov gets a hammering in Paris

Mark Pullinger, 27th April

Despite wonderful contributions from Stanislav Kochanovsky and the Orchestre de Paris, a disappointing opening to the Philharmonie's Rachmaninov Weekend.

**111

Russians invade the Philharmonia, led by Matsuev and Kochanovsky

Roy Westbrook, 4th April

Kochanovsky has been making waves around Europe and beyond, and we now heard just why.

****1

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Stanley Fefferman

Stanley Fefferman is Professor Emeritus at York University, Toronto. He is active in classical, new music, and jazz circles as a writer and accredited performance photographer. His work is archived on Canadian sites The Live Music Report.com, Showtimemagazine.ca, and OpusOneReview.com. His website is here.