Thapelo Masita plays Bach as a prayer and a plea in New York City

By Kurt Gottschalk, 23 June 2020

Loading, please wait...

Watch online See full listing

“his playing was assured, his face aspirational, imploring”

Reviewed at The Met Cloisters, New York City on 23 June 2020

arr. Thapelo Masita, There Is a Balm in Gilead

Bach, Cello suite no. 1 in G major, BWV1007 (I. Prelude, II. Allemande)

arr. Thapelo Masita, Ha Le Mpotsa Tshepo Yaka (When Asked Wherein My Hope Lies)

Bach, Cello suite no. 1 in G major, BWV1007 (III. Courante, IV. Sarabande)

arr. Thapelo Masita, Amazing Grace

Bach, Cello suite no. 1 in G major, BWV1007 (V. Minuet, VI. Gigue)

Perkinson, Lamentations (IV. Perpetual Motion)

Thapelo Masita, Cello

Dazzling Prokofiev from Alim Beisembayev and the RLPO

Peter Connors, 26th April

In an all-Russian programme in Liverpool, Alim Beisembayev gives a breathtaking performance of Prokofiev's fiendishly difficult Second Piano Concerto.

****1

A Evgeny Kissin tour de force in Boston

Kevin Wells, 25th April

Andrey Boreyko makes an impressive debut with the Boston Symphony, where Evgeny Kissin performs in not one, but two piano concertos.

****1

Patriotic angst with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Thomas Zehetmair

Nick Butters, 24th April

Patriotic Sibelius and early Mendelssohn are served up at the Glasshouse in Gateshead.

***11

Yunchan Lim at Carnegie Hall: unmooring musical time

Edward Sava-Segal, 24th April

Schubert and Scriabin are shaped by expansion and suspension in the Korean pianist’s Carnegie Hall recital.

****1

Stephen Hough makes a convincing case for Rachmaninov 1 with the RSNO

Simon Thompson, 24th April

On a return visit to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, John Wilson shapes A London Symphony with melancholy sweep.

****1

Turangalîla underwhelms at the Southbank’s Multitudes festival

Roy Westbrook, 23rd April

Serious music ill-matched by filmic limitations as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra tackles Messiaen’s epic “symphony” as part of the Southbank’s cross-genre festival.

**111

More reviews...

Kurt Gottschalk

Kurt Gottschalk is a journalist and author based in New York City. His writings on contemporary and classical music, jazz and improvisation have been published in outlets throughout Europe and America and he has two volumes of short fiction to his name. He produced and hosted the Miniature Minotaurs radio programme on WFMU and currently hosts Afternoon New Music on WKCR.