Geniušas, SCO, Emelyanychev, Usher Hall, Edinburgh review - glorious return to a much-missed venue

★★★★ GENIUSAS, SCO, EMELYANYCHEV, EDINBURGH Glorious return to the Usher Hall

Abundant energy from conductor and orchestra, less so from the soloist

This concert almost had me in tears before a single note was played because it marked (joy!) the first classical concert to take place in the Usher Hall since it was shut in March 2020. She has been closed for eighteen long months, but she hasn’t aged a day.

Leeds International Piano Competition Finals, Leeds Town Hall review - a hi-tech, low carbon musical celebration

★★★★ LEEDS INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION FINALS  Hi-tech, low carbon musical celebration: an upbeat close to one of UK's great musical events

Upbeat close to one of the UK's great musical events

It’s easy to forget that what you see in a competition final isn’t always the full story, the jury members’ votes in this case based on what had gone on in the earlier rounds. The 20th Leeds International Piano Competition began its final stages in the city two weeks ago, the 63 competitors in the first round filmed earlier this year in 17 separate locations across the globe, the films streamed via Vimeo to the UK.

Benedetti, National Youth Orchestra, Heyward, BBC Proms review – stirring sounds of change

★★★★ BENEDETTI, NYO, BBC PROMS Strength and surprise on a revolutionary bill

Strength and surprise on a revolutionary bill

In a normal year, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain descends mob-handed on the Royal Albert Hall for a Prom that complements the sheer quality of the young musicians’ work with joyful, raucous, roof-raising quantity. I recall a Turangalîla symphony in the other Olympic season of 2012 that rocked all Kensington with its heaven-storming, gold-medal exuberance. This summer, with caution still the proper watchword, the NYO has built its admirable “Hope Exchange” programme into a series of steps into the musical future.

Brauss, BBC Philharmonic, Gernon, BBC Proms review - surprises and miracles in store

★★★★ BRAUSS, BBC PHILHARMONIC, GERNON, BBC PROMS Surprises and miracles in store

Drumroll: It's......... a joy to hear some Haydn again

Two nights after the Scottish Chamber Orchestra had brought the first great E flat major symphony to the Proms – Mozart’s 39th – a serendipitous change of programme on Tuesday gave us the second: Haydn’s “Drumroll”. An equally serendipitous change of conductor saw Ben Gernon get the evening off to a deceptively simple start: no fancy-dan cadenza from the BBC Philharmonic’s timpanist, just enough of a flourish to get everyone’s attention as Haydn probably had in mind.

Carducci Quartet, Wigmore Hall review - complexity and depth

★★★★ CARDUCCI QUARTET, WIGMORE HALL Complexity and depth

Programme of short quartets showcases an impressive sensitivity to texture and mood

This programme was a bit of a calling card from the Carducci Quartet. They have previously recorded all three works, and the three composers, Haydn, Shostakovich, Beethoven, clearly play to their strengths. Add to that a modest running time, the Shostakovich Seventh and Beethoven op.

Bronfman, Philharmonia, Salonen, RFH review – celebration around C major

★★★★★ BRONFMAN, PHILHARMONIA, SALONEN, RFH Celebration around C major

The brilliant first of a great principal conductor’s two farewell programmes

One of the many things we’ll miss when Esa-Pekka Salonen moves on from his 13 years as the Philharmonia’s principal conductor will be his programming. For this first of his farewell concerts, he’s not only chosen what he loves but made sure it all fits.

First Person: Boris Giltburg on lockdown interruptions to filming Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas

BORIS GILTBURG On lockdown interruptions to filming Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas

The Moscow-born Israeli pianist on an odyssey that took several unexpected turns

About a year ago, in a distant pre-pandemic world, I remember walking down Edgware Road one cold London evening. I was heading towards Jaques Samuel Pianos, my favourite haunt in London, to meet filmmaker Stewart French from Fly On The Wall.