Prom 58: Orchestre de Paris/Mäkelä review – electrifying music-making from an elite team
A Parisian-flavoured programme of narrative works by Debussy, Stravinsky and Berlioz was played with precision and panache, full of relishable and memorable moments
August 2024
Imogen Holst: Discovering Imogen album review – expressive works from composer hiding in plain sight
Huw Montague Rendall: Contemplation album review – young opera star justifies the buzz
Prom 49: Czech Philharmonic/Hrůša/Kobekina review – impassioned playing of Dvořák and less well known Suk
Prom 42: Beethoven’s Ninth by Heart review – music and emotion made electrifyingly visual
Prom 40: Bach Collegium Japan/Suzuki review – audience lean in for subtle drama
Jane Stanley: Cerulean Orbits album review – music with an ear for texture and economy
Aigul Akhmetshina: Aigul album review – mezzo from Bashkortostan is an insouciant star
July 2024
Prom 15: The Swingles/BBCPhil/Collon review – a bicycle wheel, birds and beatboxing
Anna Clyne’s The Gorgeous Nothings was fleetingly spellbinding, borne by the Swingles’ singing, and Nicholas Collon ensured Messaien’s Turangalila was light on its feet
Janáček: The Excursions of Mr Brouček album review – eccentric opera has sparkle and muscle
Jaroslav Březina is characterful in the title role for this new studio recording, heading an excellent cast and orchestra who know this music inside out
Mishka Rushdie Momen: Reformation album review – beguiling and beautiful performances make the past present
The British pianist plays 16th-century keyboard works on a modern grand, making them feel fresh and new with a virtuosic light touch
June 2024
Katya Kabanova review – Romaniw soars in cogent take on Janáček’s tragedy
Sibelius and Prokofiev Violin Concertos album review – freewheeling rapport never sounds forced
To Sing of Love album review – sweetly glowing, beautifully coloured choral music
The Barber of Seville review – Rossini’s opera gets a British Victoriana makeover
The Egypt-born singer’s recital took in a wide selection of songs, from Mozart to Lebanese composer Najib Hankash, all brought to life by her bright and pliant soprano and the sensitive accompaniment of Joseph Middleton
BBCSO/Brabbins review – a Brazilian mass brings a ray of Rio sunshine
Mellower than its European counterparts, Nunes Garcia’s mass flowed easily under Brabbins’ baton – and the four solo singers basked in its floridity
Beethoven: Violin Sonatas 1, 6 and 8 album review – characterful and infectiously gleeful
Sherratt/Drake: Fear No More album review – drinkably deep bass at his peak
Leonidas Kavakos review – the music dances irresistibly in ego-free solo Bach
