Bavouzet, Manchester Camerata, Takács-Nagy, Stoller Hall, Manchester review - spirit of the 1780s

★★★★ BAVOUZET, MANCHESTER CAMERATA, TAKACS-NAGY Spirit of the 1780s

Historically informed playing and a delight to hear

It was very much the formula as before, as Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Gábor Takács-Nagy moved their edition of the Mozart piano concertos a step closer to completion with Nos. 11, 12 and 13.

Bernstein's Mass, RNCM, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - a happening, a demo, an achievement

★★★★ BERNSTEIN'S MASS, RNCM, MANCHESTER A happening, a demo, an achievement

Manchester premiere of extraordinary ‘theatre piece’ marks a special anniversary

Leonard Bernstein’s Mass has something of the nature of what might have been called a “happening” at the time he wrote it. It was 1971, and it was created for and premiered at the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington.

Album: Nia Archives - Sunrise Bang ur Head Against the Wall

★★★★ NIA ARCHIVES - SUNRISE BANG UR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL The jungle-pop star shows precisely what she's made of in this condensed statement

The jungle-pop star shows precisely what she's made of in this condensed statement

We are way, way past the point where it makes any sense to talk of jungle or drum’n’bass “revivals”. Thirty years from the emergence of jungle from the rave scene, its tempo and tropes have remained a staple sound for generation upon generation of clubbers, boy racers and festival goers. It is woven into the fabric of global, and particularly British, culture just as integrally as, say, indie rock guitars are.

Hewitt, BBC Philharmonic, Davis, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - the classical style

★★★★★ HEWITT, BBC PHILHARMONIC, DAVIS, BRIDGEWATER HALL The classical style

A masterclass, with dance at its heart, from two expert guests

Two intriguing themes and two great guest artists were offered by the BBC Philharmonic to their Saturday night audience in the Bridgewater Hall: the themes were what “classicism” really is, and the variety of music inspired by (or written for) dance.

Gerhardt, BBC Philharmonic, Gernon, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - calm and clear conducting

★★★★ GERHARDT, BBC PHILHARMONIC, GERNON, MANCHESTER Calm & clear conducting

Maybe not perfect, but when things worked, they worked beautifully

Ben Gernon’s calm and clear way of conducting an orchestra (something he once told me he’d observed in the work of his mentor, Colin Davis) is good to watch and, I would guess, welcomed by those he directs. Since his time with the BBC Philharmonic as principal guest conductor (2017-2020) he’s been a welcome visitor to them in Manchester and Salford, and this programme pulled a good crowd and was indeed very rewarding.

Benedetti, Hallé, Elder, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - essays in transparency

★★★★ BENEDETTI, HALLE, ELDER, BRIDGEWATER HALL Essays in transparency

Taking Szymanowski's Second Violin Concerto to a near-capacity house

Nicola Benedetti and Sir Mark Elder are both in the enviable position of being able to take audiences with them into music territory that might scare some away. So it was a gratifyingly near-capacity house that heard Szymanowski’s Second Violin Concerto last night as – on the first occasion they have worked together – they presented it to the Hallé audience.

Die Fledermaus, RNCM, Manchester review - a champagne cork-popping celebration

★★★★ DIE FLEDERMAUS, RNCM, MANCHESTER A champagne cork-popping celebration

Strauss In Da Haus as ingeniously updated scenario brings edge to the Bat-story

The Royal Northern College of Music is in the mood for celebration. Its 50 years of existence warrants popping the champagne corks big-time, so for its end-of-year operatic production Die Fledermaus is just what the doctor ordered.

Hewitt, Hallé, Schuldt, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - lightening the gloom

Precise and telling results in Britten, Mozart, Strauss and Thorvaldsdottir

If there was a certain doom-laden dimension to Clemens Schuldt’s Bridgewater Hall programme with the Hallé ( … Requiem … Mozart in D minor … Strauss describing Death and …), it was easily lightened by the conductor’s own approach and personality.

Psappha, Hallé St Peter’s, Manchester review - pioneers of today’s music undaunted

★★★★ PSAPPHA, HALLE ST PETER'S, MANCHESTER Pioneers of today’s music undaunted

Premieres and rewarding new experiences from champions of creativity

Manchester's champions of contemporary music, just stripped of support by Arts Council England, are undaunted and last night continued doing what they do best. A small ensemble of virtuoso players brought a large and appreciative audience at Hallé St Peter’s a set of four challenging pieces, with a world premiere and a UK premiere among them.

Pioro, Julien-Laferrière, BBC Philharmonic, Schwarz, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - joy on a Saturday night

★★★★ PIORO, JULIEN-LAFERRIERE, BBC PHILHARMONIC, SCHWARZ Joy on a Saturday night

Mainstream music making has its own rewards

This was at first sight a somewhat ordinary looking programme for the BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven, Brahms … even Stravinsky doesn’t frighten a Saturday night audience in Manchester these days.