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Orchestral

Barbara Hannigan singing and conducting LUDWIG. Concertgebouw Amsterdam 4-12-2017 Photo: Copyright Marco Borggreve

A Nightingale sings but Copland doesn’t dance – Barbara Hannigan in Copenhagen

Barbara Hannigan is a superstar of classical music and a one off. A generational talent who sings and conducts at the same time – seemingly using every fibre of her being to communicate the...
Stephen Darlington and Jonatham Darlington wearing evening suits and sitting in front of the Steinmeyer organ at the Meistersingerhalle in Nuremburg.

Darlington meets Darlington at the Nürnberger Symphoniker – review

100 years and two months ago Aaron Copland’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra was premiered by the New York Symphony Orchestra. At the end of the concert the conductor Walter Damrosch turned to the...
Smith Square, London

Music for a Great City: The Outcry Ensemble at Smith Square – Review

Even though I have been to plenty of superb performances this year there are a few good ‘uns that I’ve missed. Work, the Olympics and a family holiday have scuppered John Wilson at the...
Aaron Copland and Muhammad Ali

The Dean and the Greatest: Aaron Copland and Muhammad Ali

I bet you didn’t realise there was a link between Aaron Copland and Muhammad Ali? Neither did I, but sometimes the stuff I turn up seems to be like buried treasure that is just...
Album covers of Aaron Copland recordings by the London Symphony Orchestra

Who has recorded the most Copland? You may be surprised!

I bet you if I asked 100 people the question “Who has recorded the most pieces by Aaron Copland?” the most common answer by a very long way would be the New York Philharmonic...
Newcastle cityscape showing bridges and the Glasshouse in Gateshead.

Copland’s Piano Concerto – A masterclass by Paul Lewis, Domingo Hindoyan & the Liverpool Philharmonic – Review

Liverpool Philharmonic with conductor Domingo Hindoyan started their season this week with a double header masterclass of 20th century classics. The crowning glory was surely Copland’s Piano Concerto played with seemingly effortless mastery by...
The stage of the Royal Albert Hall

Copland at the Proms 2: “The Earth” with the National Youth Orchestra

When you’ve had a riveting “short ride in a fast machine” usually the first thing you want to do is get back in the vehicle and have another go! And that’s what I did....
Copland at the 2023 Proms

Copland at the Proms 1: Clarinet Concerto played by the BBC NOW

I was at the Oval in London on Monday. Not the Kennington Oval to see Stuart Broad’s amazing fairytail swansong as a test cricketer. I was 3.5 miles north west inside the oval of...
Fang Yi-Liu of the Leipziger Ballett company performing Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto part of the Soto Scholz Schröder ballet

Soto/Scholz/Schröder – Copland’s Clarinet Concerto – Ballet Premiere – Review

It was with a great deal of anticipation and just a little bit of trepidation that I travelled to Leipzig last weekend to see a new ballet version of Copland’s Clarinet Concerto. The well-loved...
Jess Gillam and Halle Orchestra flyer Icarus

A Tale of Two Cities, A Tale of Two Great American Symphonies

Programmers at the City of Birmingham Symphony and Hallé Orchestra served up a late birthday treat for me this week! Two concerts on consecutive nights with lots of Copland and his 20th century contemporaries....