The Tippett Quartet's Canadian debut redeems the time

By Stanley Fefferman, 02 April 2013

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Reviewed at University of Toronto: Walter Hall, Toronto on 28 March 2013

Tippett, String Quartet no. 5

Herrmann, Psycho Suite for Strings (for string quartet)

Beethoven, String Quartet no. 14 in C sharp minor, Op.131

Tippett Quartet

Conviction, passion and clarity: Sir Stephen Hough at Wigmore Hall

Christopher Woodley, 19th May

Fragments by Brahms, Schoenberg and Schubert orbit Beethoven's Waldstein and Schumann's Carnaval in another masterful recital from Sir Stephen Hough.

****1

Spellbinding Gewandhausorchester Leipzig in Vienna’s Musikverein

Chanda VanderHart, 18th May

In Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto, Yulianna Avdeeva commands attention through sheer innate charisma, anchored in intense engagement.

*****

Brighton Philharmonic play their socks off at the Brighton Festival

Nick Boston, 17th May

Joanna MacGregor and the BPO pull off an excellent performance of Shostakovich's Tenth, alongside William Kentridge's evocative film, Oh to Believe in Another World.

****1

Lucas and Arthur Jussen: a virtuoso pairing at Prague Spring

Frank Kuznik, 17th May

Lucas and Arthur Jussen make more than a guest appearance in a dazzling performance with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

****1

Edward Gardner makes a distinctive debut at the Pittsburgh Symphony

Sam Jacobson, 17th May

Edward Gardner’s Pittsburgh Symphony debut brings freshness and intensity to Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, alongside a sparkling tribute to Michael Tilson Thomas.

****1

Ensemble 360 illuminates the gathering darkness in Sheffield

Phil Parker, 17th May

Nightfall in Sheffield General Cemetery provides the perfect atmospheric backdrop for Ensemble 360’s exploration of chamber music by Mozart, Weber and Korngold.

****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.