Digital challenge in the Digital Concert Hall

By Roy Westbrook, 13 December 2020

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“what began in reticence ended with a flamboyant bit of theatre”

Reviewed at Philharmonie: Großer Saal, Berlin on 13 December 2020

Stravinsky, Violin Concerto in D major

Mahler, Symphony no. 1 in D major "Titan"

Berliner Philharmoniker

Andris Nelsons, Conductor

Baiba Skride, Violin

Kirill Petrenko’s ideal Pulcinella at the Philharmonie Berlin

Elena Luporini, 7th May

In Berlin, Kirill Petrenko conducts Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Gautier Capuçon: an ideal line-up.

****1

Petrenko and Serebrennikov forge a new Ring in Salzburg

Phillip Richter, 1st April

The Berliner Philharmoniker’s much-anticipated return to Salzburg gets off to an impressive musical start. Kirill Serebrennikov’s staging raises numerous questions, but answers few of them.

****1

Kirill Petrenko and the Berliner Philharmoniker in Seoul

SangKwon Lee, 9th November

On their Asian tour, the Berliner Philharmoniker reaffirms its renown in a concert of Schumann and Brahms at the Seoul Arts Center.

*****

Pitch perfect: Petrenko conducts Dusapin, Zimmermann and Brahms

Elena Luporini, 17th September

At this year's Musikfest Berlin, Kirill Petrenko conducts his Berliner Philharmoniker in a devilishly intricate programme.

****1

A place to call our own: Marin Alsop in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 22nd February

For her debut at the head of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Marin Alsop reflects on what a ‘home’ is through works by Tarkiainen, Dean, Copland and Villa-Lobos.

****1

Robertson conducts the German premiere of Srnka's Superorganisms

Elena Luporini, 13th February

At the Philharmonie, David Robertson steps in for Kirill Petrenko for a concert all about the wonders of nature, featuring Varèse, Srnka and Beethoven.

****1

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.

Digital challenge in the Digital Concert Hall: Skride and Nelsons in Berlin