Not all mineshafts fully accessible in Cologne

By Alexander Hall, 01 May 2021

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“a jet-propelled Finale with imposing trombones, whooping horns and thrilling violin tremolos”

Reviewed at Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne on 30 April 2021

Mendelssohn, The Hebrides Overture, “Fingal's Cave”, Op.26

Bruch, Violin Concerto no. 1 in G minor, Op.26

Schumann, Symphony no. 4 in D minor, Op.120

Vadim Gluzman, Violin

WDR Symphony Orchestra

Marek Janowski, Conductor

Mathis Kaspar Stier takes the bassoon spotlight in Jolivet's concerto

Edward Sava-Segal, 17th April

A strong connection between Manfred Honeck and the WDR musicians was clearly palpable during the entire performance.

****1

Jukka-Pekka Saraste lacks romanticism with the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln at Salle Pleyel

Constance Clara Guibert, 17th September

Romanticism found both its source and its end at Salle Pleyel on Tuesday night: Beethoven’s Egmont overture, incidental music for a heroic drama written by Goethe, and his Fifth Symphony, where it has been said that “Fate knocks at the door” – both works composed before 1810 – and Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs, created in 1948, when the last notes of Romanticism in music history were dying slow

**111

WDR Symphonieorchester Köln takes a gamble on young talent, but Kazuki Yamada delivers

Gavin Dixon, 6th July

The WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln put its fate in the hands of the younger generation for this evening’s concert. Conductor Kazuki Yamada is only 34. The original violin soloist was to have been Lisa Batiashvili, but she pulled out and was replaced by the 22-year-old Serge Zimmermann.

***11

Quinta de Chaikovski desbordante en L’Auditori con Orozco-Estrada

Maria Sánchez, 24th February

El conjunto alemán recreó una lectura llena de matices, brillos y bailes motívicos relucientes que posibilitaron una interpretación magistral entre líneas románticas.

*****

Heute Feste feiern wie gestern und morgen

Jens Klier, 28th October

Frisch gebackener Ritter Măcelaru legt mit Di Castri, Lutosławski und Orff zündende Lunten eines in sich stimmigen Geburtstagsfeuerwerks.

****1

Volles zeitgenössisches Risiko vom WDR Sinfonieorchester

Michael Klier, 8th May

Das von Baldur Brönnimann dirigierte Programm mit Werken von Unsuk Chin, Josep Planells Schiaffino und James Diaz kann nicht immer überzeugen.

***11

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Alexander Hall

Alexander Hall divides his time between London and Hamburg, where he had a career in academic administration and teaching. He reviews for Bachtrack and Opera Today, and has also reviewed for Classical Source. A connoisseur of the great orchestras of the world, his musical memories stretch back to Karajan/Berlin Phil, Mravinsky/Leningrad Phil, Bernstein/Vienna Phil, and he has seen most of the great conductors from the past, including Böhm, Klemperer, Kubelik, Ormandy and Szell.

Not all mineshafts fully accessible in Cologne: Janowski, Gluzman and the WDR Symphony