Reviews of Prog Rock, Classical Music, Art Rock and Jazz
Saturday 13 June 2026 The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester ★★★★★ From a funeral march to resurrection: superb Mahler in Manchester Gentlemen of City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus © Chris Payne From a funeral march to resurrection: superb Mahler in Manchester Manchester does like Mahler. The Bridgewater Hall was almost full on Saturday evening for a …
Saturday 25 April 2026 The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester ★★★★★ The orchestra continues its superb run of form with Julia Wolfe's vision of the aftermath of 9/11, Bomsori's virtuosic violin-playing in Tchaikovsky, and Berlioz's opium-induced visions Violinist Bomsori with members of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra © Chris Payne Like Manchester's two Premier League football teams, its …
Continue reading "BBC Philharmonic Orchestra – Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto"
Saturday 18 April 2026 The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester ★★★★★ Jazz and classical music unite in a stunning celebration of the 250th anniversary of American Independence Members of the BBC Philharmonic. Image © Chris Payne Saturday evening's concert by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Joshua Weilerstein at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, was a celebration …
Continue reading "BBC Philharmonic Orchestra – New World Symphony – Live review"
Saturday 14 March 2026 The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester **** Stunning singing from soprano Sarah Wegener in Wagner and Strauss, and the UK premiere of a potential classic by Edmund Finnis Soprano Sarah Wegener with conductor Nicholas Carter and the BBC Philharmonic. Image © Chris Payne Saturday's concert by the BBC Philharmonic under the baton of …
Continue reading "BBC Philharmonic Orchestra – Four Last Songs – Live Review"
Thursday 24 February 2026 Bridgewater Hall, Manchester ***** 'A mature work from a highly accomplished composer' - Jonny Greenwood's new violin concerto performed by Daniel Pioro and The Hallé Jonny Greenwood. Photo credit Sharyn Bellemakers/The Hallé Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has been a classical composer for the last twenty years. His film scores, including There Will …
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Saturday 21 February 2026 Bridgewater Hall, Manchester ***** Love is a fragile thing: superb performances of Albarn Berg, Sergey Prokofiev and Cassandra Miller by Lawrence Power and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Composer Cassandra Miller, Viola Player Lawrence Power and Members of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Credit: Chris Payne On The Cure's comeback album Songs of a …
Continue reading "BBC Philharmonic Orchestra – Romeo and Juliet – Live Review"
Saturday 7 February 2026 The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester **** French-tinged minimalism, sparkling Ravel and Rachmaninoff's final orchestral statement Elisabeth Brauß and members of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Image © Chris Payne Saturday evening's concert by the BBC Philharmonic was their first under the baton of Adam Hickox. He's the son of Richard Hickox, who died nearly …
Continue reading "BBC Philharmonic Orchestra – Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances – Live Review"
Saturday 24 January 2026 Bridgewater Hall, Manchester ***** An unforgettable exploration of Bartók's psychodrama Jennifer Johnston as Judith, Christopher Purves as Duke Bluebeard and conductor Anja Bihlmaier. Image © Chris Payne It's unusual for one concert in an orchestra's season to follow on from the next, unless they are part of a programmed series, such …
Continue reading "BBC Philharmonic Orchestra – Bluebeard’s Castle – Live Review"
Saturday 17 January 2026 Bridgewater Hall, Manchester **** A serene Beethoven piano and two unresolved American orchestral classics from Ives and Adams Alim Beisembayev (at the piano), John Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic. Image credit Chris Payne. Saturday evening's concert by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, under their Chief Conductor, John Storgårds, featured two pieces by …
Continue reading "BBC Philharmonic – John Adams, Beethoven and Ives – Live Review"
Manchester was the place to be for superb performances in 2025 The Year in Classical Music Sometimes going abroad reminds you how good things are at home. In the spring of 2025, I went to the Shostakovich Festival in Leipzig, featuring world-class performers such as the Gewandhausorchester and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. So it was …