Uzunstein Chamber Orchestra: Confused and Confounding

By Simon Hukin, 25 May 2015

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Reviewed at National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, Canberra on 24 May 2015

Jeleskovic, Once, Our Comrades

Jeleskovic, Elegy: Memento

Jeleskovic, Silent Valley

Williams, Film music from Schindler's List

Franck, Panis Angelicus

Uzunstein Chamber Orchestra

Giga Jeleskovic, Director

Stephen Lalor

Harry Werlemann-Godfrey, Cello

Sublimely ridiculous: Grétry’s L’Amant jaloux

David Larkin, 6th December

Another ancient hit revived and delivered with panache by Sydney-based Pinchgut Opera: Gretry's L'Amant jaloux (1778) proved it still could raise laughs, aided by a superb cast.

****1

LA Phil celebrates the California spirit with Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Cameron Kelsall, 3rd May

The program features Maria Dueñas in Korngold's Violin Concerto and a moving tribute to LA native Michael Tilson Thomas

****1

Denis Kozhukhin: captivating storytelling with the London Symphony

Clare Varney, 1st May

At the Konzerthaus Dortmund, Sir Antonio Pappano and the LSO are joined by Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin to plunge into the depths of despair in Bernstein’s melancholic The Age of Anxiety.

***11

Eric Lu brings scintillating Chopin to Singapore

Chang Tou Liang, 1st May

A world premiere by Wang Chenwei, familiar Chopin and a rare outing for Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta make for satisfying fare in Jahcun Wong’s Singapore Symphony programme.

****1

Yuja Wang with the Mahler CO: between lyricism and volatility

Edward Sava-Segal, 1st May

Yuja Wang and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra frame Chopin’s E minor concerto with two Prokofiev works, the First Symphony and Second Piano Concerto.

****1

BBC Philharmonic’s bold but unbalanced Stravinsky and Adams

Leighton Jones, 1st May

Balance issues mar an otherwise compelling programme from John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

***11

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Simon Hukin

Simon is a professional brass musician. He studied performance at the Australian National University under Charles MacInnes and Scott Kinmont, graduating just before its untimely demise. He has played with bands and orchestras around Australia and now divides his time between music and politics in the nation’s capital. He is particularly interested in working with leaders on a territory and national level to build support for the arts. He has written for several different publications as a freelance arts critic over the last seven years.