Superstar performances from Yuja Wang and Klaus Mäkelä in Edinburgh

Yuja Wang, Klaus Mäkelä and the Oslo Philharmonic

Yuja Wang and the Oslo Philharmonic

Klaus Mäkelä conducts the Oslo Philharmonic

By David Smythe, 23 August 2023

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“Yuja Wang... completely dazzled with her mastery”

Reviewed at Usher Hall, Edinburgh on 22 August 2023

Ravel, Piano Concerto in D major for the left hand

Ravel, Piano Concerto in G major

Shostakovich, Symphony no. 5 in D minor, Op.47

Yuja Wang, Piano

Oslo Philharmonic

Klaus Mäkelä, Conductor

Virtuosity and volume: Oslo Phil plays Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich

Chanda VanderHart, 22nd January

Batiashvili’s account of the Tchaikovsky concerto confirms why she remains one of the most compelling violinists of her generation.

***11

Batiashvili, Mäkelä and the Oslo Philharmonic in Hamburg

Mengguang Huang, 18th January

A last-minute programme change doubles Batiashvili’s Tchaikovsky at the Elbphilharmonie, but repetition is transformed into fresh revelation.

****1

A high Klaus operation: Mäkelä and the Oslo Philharmonic

David Karlin, 23rd October

In their home concert hall under their Chief Conductor, the Oslo Philharmonic produce a high quality performance of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony.

****1

Mäkelä leads his Oslo troops in a gripping Shostakovich 5

Mark Pullinger, 25th May

Leif Ove Andsnes joins the Oslo Philharmonic in dynamic Rachmaninov before high-energy Shostakovich closes the season.

****1

With a fine Oslo Philharmonic, Yuja Wang wows the Proms

David Karlin, 12th August

Yuja Wang lives up to her superstar status in Liszt and a couple of operatic encores, while the Oslo Philharmonic show icy clarity in Sibelius and orchestral colour aplenty in Strauss.

****1

Majestic swans in flight close Mäkelä's Sibelius cycle in Vienna

Mark Pullinger, 23rd May

The grand finale of the Oslo Philharmonic's Sibelius cycle at the Wiener Konzerthaus ends with a grand finale – the famous Swan Hymn of the Fifth Symphony.

*****

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David Smythe

David the farmer was drawn into music through choirs, orchestras, taking part in and directing 'serious' opera as a student. Passionate about live classical music, particularly chamber opera, unusual pieces and events and giving the next generation the tools to engage with the classical world.

Superstar performances from Yuja Wang, Klaus Mäkelä and the Oslo Phil in Edinburgh