The Spidy Editor | Clare Varney - Music | Food

A towering inferno: on tour with Vikingur Ólafsson and the London Philharmonic

18 November 2024Music

Vikingur Ólafsson and Edward Gardner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Smartly dressed in a grey suit and a pale pink tie and exuding a calm efficiency, Norwegian pianist Vikingur Ólafsson swept onto the stage. Expectation fizzed. A year on from…

Suave and sophisticated: Mäkelä’s Rachmaninoff hits all the right notes

16 November 2024Music

Klaus Mäkelä conducting the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

It’s been a busy few weeks for Klaus Mäkelä. First on tour with the Oslo Philharmonic. Then a quick soirée to the UK for the Rite of Spring with the London Symphony Orchestra…

The real deal: Tarmo Peltokoski conducts the Rotterdam Philharmonic

13 November 2024Music

Much has been invested in Tarmo Peltokoski, the 24-year-old Principal Guest Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra who made his debut with the orchestra in May 2022. Amidst the hype…

Dutch broadcaster showcases teaching at its best on prime-time TV

10 November 2024Culture, Music

In the classical music world, the development of young music talent is important, yet most of the time, it occurs behind closed doors. A constant stream of masterclasses given generously…

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 rare. A meeting of minds where a creative process seemingly unfolds in front of our eyes is definitely a moment to cherish. Such was…

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…