The Spidy Editor | Clare Varney - Music | Food

A meeting of minds: Vilde Frang and Klaus Mäkelä on tour with the Oslo Philharmonic

5 November 2024Music

Vilde Frang, Klaus Mäkelä and the Oslo Phil

Witnessing a partnership of equals is a rare occurrence. A meeting of minds where a creative process seemingly unfolds in front of our eyes is definitely a moment to cherish.…

A rousing Mozart Requiem from Orchestra of the 18th Century and Cappella Amsterdam

25 October 2024Music

The Orchestra of the 18th Century's current project with Cappella Amsterdam directed by Daniel Reuss, sees a return to repertoire very close to their heart. Mozart’s Requiem and his Symphony no. 40 in…

Ton Koopman celebrates his 80th birthday in style with a new version of Handel’s Esther

22 October 2024Music

Bounding onto the stage with all the energy of a man half his age, Ton Koopman, founder and director of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir, looked ready to party.…

Karina Canellakis makes her debut with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

20 October 2024Music

All eyes were firmly on Karina Canellakis in this her debut night conducting the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in a programme full of extremes of emotion. Canellakis is well known to…

Augustin Hadelich’s Sibelius soars the heights at the Concertgebouw

18 October 2024Music

Hadelich Plays the Sibelius Violin Concerto in the Concertgebouw

German-American violinist Augustin Hadelich, who grew up in the foothills of rural Tuscany, is most definitely the man of the moment and is quite rightly earning a reputation as one…

William Knight’s new commission for the Nederlands Kamerkoor tells a very English tale

1 October 2024Culture, Music

Nederlands Kamerkoor The Canterbury Songs travelled to Enschede’s Grote Kerk with British choral conductor Peter Phillips to tell a very British tale. For a choir known for their innovative programming, this latest offering…

The Vienna Phil blows away the cobwebs at the Concertgebouw

26 September 2024Music

Christian Thielemann conducting the Vienna Phil at the Concertgebouw ©Simon Van Boxtel

Fresh from two concerts in Lucerne, the Vienna Philharmonic travelled to the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam to perform Strauss' immensely powerful Ein Heldenleben and Mendelssohn's Third Symphony the "Scottish". I had immense…

Mäkelä’s magical Mahler 1 with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

25 September 2024Music

Essen, 21.09.2024, Philharmonie Essen Klaus Mäkelä Royal

Casually dressed in an open neck shirt and brown suede shoes, Klaus Mäkelä, chief conductor designate of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, joined the stage for the first of three events,…

Stefan Dohr plays Hans Abrahamsen at the BBC Proms

19 September 2024Music

Sefan Dohr giving the UK premiere of the Hans Abrahamsen Horn Concerto at the BBC Proms 2024 with the BBC Philharmonic and John Storgårds

Stefan Dohr makes his debut at the BBC Proms in the UK premiere of Han Abrahamsen's Horn Concerto with John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic. I wanted to learn more…

Creating that unique sound in my head for fifty years

13 August 2024Music

Peter Phillips director and founder of the Tallis Scholars talks about his relentless pursuit of a distinctive Renaissance choral sound formed over fifty years ago and his mission is to share this…