Raising a glass to greatness: Gürzenich's splendid Stravinsky marathon

By Roy Westbrook, 07 April 2021

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“bassoons gurgled with delight, as often required by this composer”

Reviewed at Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne on 6 April 2021

Stravinsky, Symphonies of Wind Instruments

Stravinsky, Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra

Stravinsky, Violin Concerto in D major

Stravinsky, The Fairy's Kiss (Le Baiser de la fée): Divertimento

Stravinsky, Elegy for solo viola

Stravinsky, Suite italienne

Stravinsky, 3 Pieces for string quartet

Stravinsky, Octet for winds

Stravinsky, Fanfare for a New Theatre for 2 trumpets

Stravinsky, Pastorale

Stravinsky, Lied ohne Name

Stravinsky, Ragtime for eleven players

Vilde Frang, Violin

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Piano

Nathan Braude, Viola

Gürzenich Orchestra

François-Xavier Roth, Conductor

Fabien Gabel, Conductor

Harry Ogg, Conductor

Wagner’s Dutchman drops anchor in Provence

Mark Pullinger, 10th April

The Flying Dutchman – or Le Vaisseau fantôme as it is known in French – makes a fleeting appearance at the Grand Théâtre de Provence in a rousing concert performance conducted by the dapper François-Xavier Roth.

****1

An excellent Rhenish from the Rhineland

Simon Thompson, 22nd June

Schumann's Third returns to its spiritual home as François-Xavier Roth conducts the Gürzenich Orchestra in a fine Rhenish.

***11

Punch and passion from Gürzenich Orchester Köln

Mark Thomas, 13th April

An exciting, though brief, world premiere and Schubert’s turbulent Fourth Symphony were given impressive readings by the Gürzenich Orchestra under Michael Sanderling, with Raphaela Gromes sensitive and passionate in Schumann.

****1

Musical contrasts from Fabien Gabel and the Gürzenich Orchester Köln

Phillip Nones, 16th March

In Cologne, Stravinsky's neoclassicism comes up against the echt-romanticism of Schreker and Korngold, ending in a draw.

****1

Beethoven and beyond: the Gürzenich reinvents the concert programme

Matthew Rye, 21st February

François-Xavier Roth and the Gürzenich Orchestra tear up the traditional concert programme to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth.

****1

A very palpable hit: Hamlet in Cologne

Matthew Rye, 24th November

Brett Dean's operatic reworking of Shakespeare's Hamlet receives its German premiere in a powerful new staging by the work's librettist Matthew Jocelyn.

****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.

Raising a glass to greatness: Gürzenich Orchestra's splendid Stravinsky marathon