Amsterdam really is the place to be. With not one, but two world premieres from Dutch National Opera in their Opera Forward festival a fortnight ago; the world premiere of…
The stage was set, complete with tablet stands and obligatory foot-pedal page turners. As the Amsterdam Sinfonietta arrived at the Muziekcentrum, Enschede for a programme entitled “Homesickness for Italy”, all…
Paavo Järvi had a glint in his eye. Now at the end of a European tour taking in Hamburg, Paris, Frankfurt and Cologne, the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich were going out with…
Exactly 50 years ago to the day, Semyon Bychkov fled the Soviet Union for Vienna, carrying a score - Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony in D minor, Op 47. Like Shostakovich, he…
The highlight of many a violinist’s calendar is the prospect of playing J.S. Bach’s wonderful violin obligatos in his St. Matthew Passion. Who will play the first orchestra’s Erbarme dich,…
The Great Church in Enschede was abuzz with curiosity. All were eager to learn more about the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century’s young French soloist and conductor, Théotime Langlois de…
Undulating chords amidst a sea of calm, as the piano gently introduced a heavenly melody. Twisting, turning, grasping at embers in the snow, unsure which direction to turn next. Such…
Opera thrives on partnership. Nederlandse Reisopera’s new production of Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos, is the perfect vehicle for such a vision, not only bringing together all the art forms,…
Dutch violinist, Tjeerd Top is the new leader of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, replacing Igor Gruppman who bid the orchestra a fond farewell in January 2023. Taking a six-month sabbatical from…
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla is having quite a year. Following her departure from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 2022, she has spent subsequent seasons travelling the world as a guest conductor…