The Classical Review

With luminous Sibelius and rousing Strauss, Mäkelä and Chicago Symphony prepare to take it on the road

Beyond the challenging works themselves, the program proved notable in other respects. Theodore Thomas and the CSO gave the U.S. premieres of Richard Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben in 1900 as well as the ...
The Classical Review

Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra deliver a deep, eloquent Mahler Third to remember

Completed in 1896, the sprawling, six-movement score is the composer’s longest and perhaps most audacious musical undertaking ...
The Classical Review

Met’s “Kavalier & Clay” mixes stunning production with largely lightweight music

Andrzej Filończyk (left) and Myles Mykkanen in Mason Bates’ The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera The best works of art, in any medium, ...
The Classical Review

Nelsons, cast and BSO give heartfelt and idiomatic advocacy to Barber’s “Vanessa”

Jennifer Holloway (left) in the title role and Samantha Hankey as Erika in Samuel Barber’s Vanessa, performed by Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra Thursday night. Photo: Winslow Townson ...
The Classical Review

Stephen Hough’s new concerto looks to the past as well as the future

Stephen Hough will perform the world premiere of his Piano Concerto, “The World of Yesterday” Friday night with the Utah Symphony led by Donald Runnicles. Sir Stephen Hough’s response as to the ...
The Classical Review

Hrůša, Bamberg Symphony deliver a memorable evening of Brahms and Wagner in Boston

Jakub Hrůša conducted the Bamberg Symphony Tuesday night at Symphony Hall. Photo: Ian Ehm There’s nothing like making up for lost time. That, on the one hand, is what the Bamberg Symphony did in their ...
The Classical Review

Florida Grand Opera’s “Silent Night” proves a rich and moving tale of common humanity

Alex DeSocio (Audebert), Kyle Albertson (Horstmayer) and Elijah William Brown (Jonathan Dale) in Kevin Puts’ Silent Night, presented by Florida Grand Opera at the Arsht Center in Miami. Photo: Lewis ...
The Classical Review

Light, warmth and mastery from Andsnes at Carnegie Hall

Leif Ove Andses performed a recital at Carnegie Hall Tuesday night. File photo: Stephanie Berger Tuesday night was frigid but there was ample warmth in Carnegie Hall, emanating from the stage where ...
The Classical Review

Grosvenor scales the heights with a trio of blockbusters for Chamber Music Maryland

Benjamin Grosvenor performed a recital for Chamber Music Maryland Sunday in Columbia. Photo: Marco Borggreve Chamber Music Maryland brought Benjamin Grosvenor back to the Horowitz Center in Columbia ...
The Classical Review

Dubious “Dutchman” and trenchant “Tosca” refract two classics through modern lenses at Santa Fe Opera

Nicholas Brownlee and Elza van den Heever in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown/SFO General director Robert Meya has given Wagner fans cause to rejoice: Santa Fe Opera ...
The Classical Review

Philadelphia’s BalletX navigates uncertain times with ingenuity

Presenting dance performances during a global pandemic is a test of ingenuity and perseverance. On Wednesday night, the Philadelphia-based BalletX beautifully rose to the challenge. Three short films ...
The Classical Review

Opposites attract with inspired partnership of Trifonov and Kavakos

Leonidas Kavakos and Danill Trifonov performed at Symphony Center in Chicago on Sunday. Photo: Todd Rosenberg Daniil Trifonov and Leonidas Kavakos would not be the first musicians one would think of ...