Waseda Symphony at the Elbphilharmonie

By Alexander Hall, 03 March 2018

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“forget Stravinsky’s Rite and listen to the incantatory frenzy at the heart of this work”

Reviewed at Elbphilharmonie: Grand Hall, Hamburg on 2 March 2018

Nicolai, The Merry Wives of Windsor: Overture

Strauss R., Sinfonia domestica, Op.53

Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture

Ishii, Mono-Prism

Kazufumi Yamashita, Conductor

Waseda Symphony Orchestra

Eitetsu Hayashi, Percussion

Fu-un no Kai, Percussion

Carlo Rizzi brings Respighi’s Rome to Birmingham

Robert Gainer, 15th April

Carlos Rizzi believes that Puccini’s orchestrations are good enough to stand alone, without their vocal lines, but can the drama compete with the romance of Respighi?

****1

Tharaud and Queyras celebrate 30 years together in Paris

David Karlin, 14th April

Crisp and elegant cello and piano playing is more successful in French and early repertoire than in Brahms.

****1

Marianne Crebassa: potent and versatile at Leeds Song

Richard Wilcocks, 12th April

Accompanied by Joseph Middleton, Marianne Crebassa performs an exquisite recital of Debussy, Mahler, Mompou and Ravel.

*****

Poetry and Precision: Seong-Jin Cho returns to Carnegie Hall

Susan Stempleski, 12th April

A little over a year after his marathon all-Ravel recital at the Hall, the Korean pianist returns with an exquisitely performed program of Bach, Schoenberg, Robert Schumann, and Chopin.

*****

Eroica: Riccardo Minasi and the WASO

Sandra Bowdler, 11th April

Guest conductor Riccardo Minasi leads the West Australian Symphony Orchestra with a program of old favourites, with outstanding contribution from trumpeter Jenna Smith

***11

A superb Salzburg sojourn: Philadelphia Orchestra plays Mozart

Cameron Kelsall, 11th April

Guest conductor Harry Bicket brings a sense of urgency to Mozart's Requiem and pulse-quickening energy to Symphony no. 40.

****1

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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.

Athleticism meets artistry: the Waseda Symphony at the Elbphilharmonie