Classical CDs: Double reeds, double pianos and double string orchestras

CLASSICAL CDS Poetry from a great bassoonist, Slavic jazz, and two fizzing collections of music for string orchestra

Poetry from a great bassoonist, Slavic jazz, and two fizzing collections of music for string orchestra

 

Sophie DervauxMozart, Hummel and Vanhal – Bassoon Concertos Sophie Dervaux (bassoon/conductor), Mozarteumorchester Salzburg (Berlin Classics)

Fidelio, Insula Orchestra, Barbican review - truth and justice brought to light

Sturdy singing and human drama enrich a fuss-free staging of Beethoven's only opera

Thanks to the pandemic, the planned tidal surge of Fidelio productions never quite happened during Beethoven’s anniversary year of 2020. Instead, the birthday’s boy’s sole opera – beset by glitches and re-thinks ever since its creation – has rolled on intermittent waves into houses and halls around the world.

Beethoven Cello Sonatas 1, Elschenbroich, Grynyuk, Fidelio Café review - towards epic song

★★★★ BEETHOVEN CELLO SONATAS 1, ELSCHENBROICH, GRYNYUK, FIDELIO CAFE The privilege of close-quarters thrills from a live-wire duo

The privilege of close-quarters thrills from a live-wire duo

London’s musical life began its halting road to recovery when in July 2020 a great cellist, Steven Isserlis, stepped out with obvious delight to play Bach to a live audience at the Fidelio Café. Another, Leonard Elschenbroich, joined by the full-on spirit of delight that is Alexei Grynyuk, hit more than one high note last night, proving that this special space will never lose its magic.

Jerusalem Quartet, Wigmore Hall review - shock and sophistication in ideally-proportioned Beethoven

★★★★★ JERUSALEM QUARTET, WIGMORE HALL Early, middle and late masterpieces in revelatory performances

Early, middle and late masterpieces in revelatory performances

Three Beethoven quartets, early, middle and late, in a single evening – inevitably as part of a cycle, like the Jerusalems’ Wigmore Hall triptych last night – is demanding on the audience, supremely tough on the players.

Colli, Bournemouth SO, Scaglione, Lighthouse, Poole review - drama and romance

★★★★ COLLI, BOURNEMOUTH SO, SCAGLIONE Spontaneity caught on the wing

Spontaneity caught on the wing in inspirational live performances

The Drama and Romance of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s promotional hook for this concert signalled a heady musical mix. Appropriate for the stark contrasts of mood central to Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, but potentially less so for Dvorák’s Symphony No. 8 that casts barely a cloud to compromise its predominantly sunny G major disposition shared with the outer movements of the Beethoven.

Takács Quartet, Wigmore Hall review - intimate letters and holy songs

★★★ TAKACS QUARTET, WIGMORE HALL Intimate letters and holy songs

Veteran quartet has some new faces, and a distinctive approach to the core repertoire

The Takács Quartet is hard to pin down. The group was founded in 1975 in Budapest, but since 1983 has been based in Boulder, Colorado. Cellist András Fejér is the only remaining founding member, and the violist, Richard O’Neill, only joined in 2020. They also have a British first violin, Edward Dusinberre. So what performing tradition can we expect from them?