Gloria Cheng: Contemporary piano music at the University of Maryland

By Simon Chin, 16 July 2012

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Reviewed at University of Maryland: Clarice Smith PAC: Gildenhorn Recital Hall, College Park on 13 July 2012

Cage, Dream

Saariaho, Prelude

Birtwistle, Betty Freeman: Her Tango

Knussen, Ophelia's Last Dance

Liptak, Starlight

Taylor, Seven Memorials: Satellite

Boulez, Une page d'éphéméride

Messiaen, Prélude no. 5: les sons impalpables du rêve

Salonen, Dichotomie

Rands, Twelve Preludes (selections)

Gloria Cheng, Piano

Stockhausen, Cage, and Bettison at Green Umbrella concert

Ted Ayala, 10th April

Dangle the term “modern music” in front of your average classical music listener and chances are their reaction will range anywhere from polite indifference to outright bile-spewing hatred.

*****

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.

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Simon Chin

Simon is a writer based in Washington DC with a background in English literature and theatre. A lapsed pianist, Simon is a graduate of Harvard College, and St Catharine's College, Cambridge. Particular interests include piano, opera and Stephen Sondheim.