Highly individual Mozart from Buniatishvili

Khatia Buniatishvili
© Esther Haase

Khatia Buniatishvili (piano)

Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Benjamin Marquise Gilmore (director) 

7.30pm, Monday 9 December 2024

Barbican Hall, London

★★★

Khatia Buniatishvili
& the Academy of St Martin in the Fields
© Nick Boston

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Don Giovanni, K527, Overture 

                                                                  Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K488

Encore:

Claude Debussy (1862-1918): Suite bergamasque, L75, No. 3, Clair de lune

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): Overture in B minor, Op. 26, 'The Hebrides'

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): Symphony No. 104 in D major, H I:104

Encore:

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): Belshazzar's Feast Suite, Op. 51, No. 2 Nocturne

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23:

'Buniatishvili’s Mozart was somewhat mystifying, and certainly very individual'. 

'The sound was not without beauty, with some very quiet playing too, but her soft-focussed over-pedalling in solos was completely at odds with the articulation produced when with the orchestra, almost like there were two different soloists at times'. 

Benjamin Marquise Gilmore
& the Academy of St Martin in the Fields
© Nick Boston

Mendelssohn:

'Barely needing direction, the ASMF performed with a chamber feel, maintaining the pulse instinctively'.

Haydn:

'Dynamic contrasts, energy flowing from Gilmore to the orchestra, and precise, confident solos from all sections injected lively spirit throughout'.

Sibelius:

'The star of the show here was definitely the haunting tone of (Michael) Cox, a delightful end to an evening of strong performances from the ASMF'. 

Read my full review on Bachtrack here. 

Handel's Messiah overpowered by massed forces to close the Proms Choral Day

Messiah at the BBC Proms Choral Day
© BBC/Andy Paradise

Nardus Williams (soprano)

Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano)

Benjamin Hulett (tenor)

Ashley Riches (bass-baritone)

Philharmonia Chorus

Bath Minerva Choir

The Fourth Choir

Jason Max Ferdinand Singers

London Youth Chamber Choir

Voices of the River's Edge

Gavin Carr (coordinating chorus-master)

Academy of St Martin in the Fields

John Butt (conductor)

Helen Charlston
© BBC/Andy Paradise

BBC Prom 65

7pm, Saturday 7 September 2024

Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★ 

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): Messiah

(orch. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791))

'Conductor John Butt had a massive juggernaut to control and, with the best will in the world, nuance was always going to be a challenge. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields played with precision and lyricism, but in solo arias and recitatives, they were often sadly just too loud to allow room for the soloists’ subtleties of expression'.

John Butt conducts Messiah
© BBC/Andy Paradise

'Tenor Benjamin Hulett opened with a gently sustained “Comfort Ye”, followed by a nimble “Ev’ry Valley”.... When Mozart got out of the way and left things to strings alone for “Behold, and see”, (Helen) Charlston shone.... Soprano Nardus Williams delivered pure tone in “He shall feed his flock”, again, muted strings allowing for delicate colour....Bass-baritone Ashley Riches’ penetrating tone cut through the textures well'.

'The Philharmonia Chorus formed the semi-chorus (still 120 singers), delivering confident precision in the fiddlier choruses'.

'The fully combined chorus produced a phenomenally powerful sound, and this was used to dramatic effect for “Wonderful Counsellor” in “For unto us a child is born”'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.