| Date and venue | Title |
|---|---|
| 17-Jan-2013 Bridgewater Hall | The Hallé and André de Ridder: Beethoven, Ligeti and Brahms |
 Having previously been Assistant Conductor at The Hallé, André de Ridder returned to a bitterly cold Manchester to conduct a fascinating programme, culminating a beautifully autumnal account of Brahms’ Symphony no.4.
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| 23-Nov-2012 Usher Hall | RSNO: Prokofiev, Mozart and Strauss with Kazushi Ono and Saleem Abboud Ashkar |
 “Cinderella” and “ballet” might ordinarily suggest glockenspiel-topped delicacy; not in Prokofiev’s case. His ballet Cinderella, and the selection from it chosen by the RSNO, contains great variety. The Introduction’s darkness hints at the exploitation and neglect which are to be vanquished by love and happiness. Prokofiev’s stated aim to write a ballet which was “as danceable as possible” did not rule out the burlesque.Read full review... | |
| 17-Jul-2012 City Recital Hall Angel Place | Australian Chamber Orchestra soloists play music by Schubert and Messiaen |
 Pairing together Schubert and Messiaen at first glance may appear slightly far-fetched. However, there are more similarities between the two composers, and indeed the two pieces in this evening’s program, than one might at first realise. Schubert and Messiaen were in many ways both experimental composers, especially the latter. Olivier Messiaen was heavily influenced by birdsong and his Roman Catholic faith and pushed the boundaries of tonal possibilities.Read full review... | |
| 30-Oct-2011 Barbican Centre: Hall | Znaider takes up the baton instead of the violin |
 In anticipation of Nicolaj Znaider’s London conducting debut with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), I had been pondering about which solo violinists have made successful transitions to a conductor. The most obvious name would be Menuhin, although he was perhaps more a great musician than a technically great conductor. Other names that come to mind are Zukerman, Kantorow, Zehetmair and more recently Andrew Manze, none of whom have totally given up violin playing and have dual careers.
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