An eclectic and entertaining programme from Carl Jackson

By Morwenna Campbell-Smith, 06 April 2021

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Reviewed at Freemasons' Hall, London on 30 March 2021

Guilmant, Prière et berceuse

Price, Suite no. 1 for organ (Fantasy & Air)

Ogden, Ritzy

Elgar, Chanson de Nuit

Mushel, Toccata

Sowande, Obangiji

Carl Jackson, Organ

Hilary Hahn’s French odyssey of refinement and fire in Dublin

Andrew Larkin, 14th May

Two technical mishaps punctuate the evening, but Hilary Hahn maintains poise throughout a French programme crowned by a finely judged, deeply expressive performance of Fauré.

****1

Frank Dupree's Liverpool debut has the audience crying out for more

Glyn Mon Hughes, 14th May

A concert celebrating the 250th anniversary of the USA saw Liverpool audiences treated to a sumptuous Copland as well as a symphony as well as a barn-storming performance of Gershwin and Duke Ellington, performed by Frank Dupree who was making his debut with the RLPO.

*****

Energetic Currentzis and Utopia at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 12th May

From Berg’s crystalline intimacy to Dionysian Mahler, Teodor Currentzis and Utopia defy orchestral tradition with standing musicians, spatial acoustics and an emotional intensity that breathes new life into the concert life.

****1

Petr Popelka delivers a thrilling opening for Prague Spring

Frank Kuznik, 12th May

With Petr Popelka on the podium, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra brings a native feel and colorful exuberance to a cultural icon.

****1

Korngold and Mahler from Ray Chen, Vasily Petrenko and the RPO

Roy Westbrook, 12th May

Few violin concertos soar from the first bar as Erich Korngold’s does, especially as in Ray Chen's high-wire account at the Royal Albert Hall.

****1

Clara Yang’s immersive piano recital gets lost in the clouds

Kurt Gottschalk, 11th May

Prerecorded acoustic guitar, soft beats and more piano accompany video of jittery yellow circles and masses of illegible text in a concert that feels both meditative and too much to take in

**111

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Morwenna Campbell-Smith

Morwenna Campbell-Smith writes The Lady Organist, a blog which began as a chronicle of her progress as an organist, but is now an international online magazine, with news, reviews, and advice for organists and would-be organists. She works for the Society of Women Organists, recently set up to encourage women and girls to take up the organ. Since 2015 she’s been on the the management team of the Royal College of Organists in the UK, as Editor of their learning campus iRCO, and writing their official blog, StopPress.