A toy-box of tyranny: Shostakovich, Stalin and Kentridge collide

Frank Huang, Keri-Lynn Wilson and the New York Philharmonic

Oh to Believe in Another World and the New York Philharmonic

By Kurt Gottschalk, 09 December 2024

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“confronting us with a toy-box of tyranny”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall, New York City on 7 December 2024

Shostakovich, Festive Overture in A major for orchestra, Op.96

Prokofiev, Violin Concerto no. 2 in G minor, Op.63

Shostakovich, Symphony no. 10 in E minor, Op.93 (With film screening)

William Kentridge, Director

Frank Huang, Violin

New York Philharmonic

Keri-Lynn Wilson, Conductor

Barbara Hannigan makes a powerful connection in La Voix humaine

Thomas May, 23rd April

The Canadian soprano and conductor fuses live performance and video in a taut, volatile account of Poulenc’s punch-packing monodrama with the New York Philharmonic, sharing the bill with Strauss’ valedictory Metamorphosen.

****1

A vocally perplexing economics assignment from David Lang

No’a L. bat Miri, 19th March

The New York Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel deliver the world premiere of Lang's The wealth of nations, inspired by Adam Smith's famous treatise.

***11

Weinberg rarity overshadows John Williams at the New York Philharmonic

Cameron Kelsall, 1st March

John Williams put butts in seats with the New York debut of his Piano Concerto, but the NY Phil's first performances of Mieczysław Weinberg’s Symphony no. 5 stole the show.

****1

Contours in motion: Kavakos and Rouvali at the New York Philharmonic

Edward Sava-Segal, 20th February

Bartók and Rachmaninov are shaped through rhythmic precision and structural concentration in the New York Philharmonic's latest subscription concert.

****1

Lyricism and drama from Dueñas, Honeck and the New York Philharmonic

Susan Stempleski, 29th January

The Spanish violinist delivers a radiant rendition of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto after which Honeck interprets his own distillation of music from Strauss’ Elektra.

****1

Thomas Adès and Yuja Wang offer contemporary works at the NY Phil

Sam Jacobson, 23rd January

Yuja Wang returns to the New York Philharmonic with Rautavaara’s dazzling First Piano Concerto in a probing program curated and conducted by Thomas Adès.

****1

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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.

A toy-box of tyranny: Shostakovich, Stalin and Kentridge collide in harrowing brilliance