theartsdesk in Tallinn and Tartu: Estonian Music Days go global

THEARTSDESK IN TALLINN AND TARTU Estonian Music Days go global

Latest host of the International Society for Contemporary Music still leads the way

First under Soviet rule, then in the remarkable flourishing of a liberated nation, Estonian contemporary music has held its independent head high and showcased it, under the aegis of the Estonian Composers' Union, first for a few days and now for more than a week in spring. In this, its 40th anniversary year, Estonian Music Days became World Music Days, hosting composers from 60 countries as the base for the 96-year old ISCM.

Hardenberger, Pöntinen, Wigmore Hall review - superstar trumpeter shows his class

A challenging programme was enjoyable - but less would have been more

There can be no questioning trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger’s extraordinary mastery: his big, unforced sound, mellifluous legato, athletic virtuosity and utterly controlled high notes. But his well-attested commitment to the avant-garde led the Wigmore audience to stay away in droves from his recital last night, leaving the hall insultingly empty for such a star performer.

10 Questions for Musician Will Gregory

10 QUESTIONS Goldfrapp's Will Gregory talks physics, Moogs, Morricone and the British Paraorchestra

The Goldfrapp mainstay talks physics, Moogs, Morricone and his work with the British Paraorchestra

Will Gregory (b.1959) is best known as one half of the alt-pop duo Goldfrapp but has a long career in music that dips into many areas. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he was a working musician who toured with multiple bands, notably, Tears for Fears, as well as playing on sessions for albums by artists ranging from The Cure to Portishead. He is a multi-instrumentalist valued for his saxophone and woodwind playing (from Moondog and Michael Nyman to Peter Gabriel and it’s him on Spiritualized’s Lazer Guided Melodies), but as much for his general studio and arrangement abilities.

10 Questions for Musician Soumik Datta

10 QUESTIONS FOR SOUMIK DATTA The British-Indian sarod player on jazz, colonialism and film

The British-Indian sarod player talks jazz, colonialism, film and more

“I think we need to get rid of labels, certainly World Music,” insists Soumik Datta, who is both composer and musician, and has lived in the UK since the age of 11. “It is possible to be a musician in the Indian tradition, as well as an electronic musician, as well as a contemporary musician...

JACK Quartet, Wigmore Hall review – superlative Elliott Carter quartets

★★★★ JACK QUARTET, WIGMORE HALL Superlative Elliott Carter from young Americans

Young American ensemble gives agile and luminous readings of complex scores

At Wigmore Hall the JACK Quartet presented the complete Elliott Carter string quartets in a single day – an astonishing feat given the scale and complexity of the music.

Melzer, Albion Quartet, Birmingham Town Hall review - songs without words

A quartet recital for a new century, if only we knew what it said

This was a fascinating, unexpected prospect; instantly appealing to anyone who’s ever wondered about the string quartet’s niche in the 21st-century musical ecosystem. Two practically new song cycles for soprano and quartet – Kate Whitley’s Charlotte Mew Songs (2017, but extended earlier this year) and Kate Soper’s Nadja (2015) - framed the Third Quartet (1938) by Elizabeth Maconchy.

Robin Hood, The Opera Story, CLF Café review - folk hero re-imagined as Tory villain

★★★★ ROBIN HOOD, THE OPERA STORY, CLF CAFE Folk hero re-imagined as Tory villain

The plot is over-stuffed, but this new opera has some riveting moments

What’s the one thing everyone knows about Robin Hood? That he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. So it was quite a brave decision to re-cast Robin as a rapacious Tory shires MP, doing his best to stop the poor becoming rich. At least, I think that was what happened: in much of the story is opaque, even having read the synopsis carefully.

Hardenberger, BBC Philharmonic, Storgårds, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - new work trumpets a sun journey

★★★★ HARDENBERGER, BBC PHILHARMONIC, STORGÅRDS, BRIDGEWATER HALL A rarity, a premiere and a symphony of thoughtful modernity

A rarity, a premiere and a symphony of thoughtful modernity

The BBC Philharmonic and its chief guest conductor John Storgårds introduced their Manchester audience to two new things – possibly three – in this concert. One was a world premiere, and you can’t get much newer than that. The other big item was a symphony that’s already nearly 40 years old, yet having only its third performance in Britain.

Bang on a Can All-Stars, Kings Place review - a kaleidoscope of vibrant sound and vision

★★★★ BANG ON A CAN, KINGS PLACE The New York six showcase a range of eclectic commissions

The six New York-based players showcase a range of eclectic commissions

Julia Wolfe, Caroline Shaw, Anna Þorvaldsdóttir: three names on quite a list I reeled off earlier this week when someone asked me why the compositions of Rebecca Saunders, in the news for winning the 250,000 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize, make me lose the will to live, and whom I’d choose instead.