The Classical Review

Mäkelä talks Mahler; Also Sibelius, Shostakovich, Walton, and his growing bond with the CSO

Klaus Mäkelä is the un-maestro. No imperious attitude or ego-driven power trips (backstage or on stage) at Orchestra Hall ...
The Classical Review

When symphonies collide: Mäkelä returns to CSO with sterling Sibelius and discordant Shostakovich

For the first program of his three-week fall residency with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Klaus Mäkelä is pairing one of ...
The Classical Review

Met opens season with impassioned vocalism in an atmospheric “Macbeth”

Lise Davidsen as Lady Macbeth and Quinn Kelsey in the title role of Verdi’s “Macbeth” at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera The Metropolitan Opera’s “The Voice Matters” slogan ...
The Classical Review

Dudamel opens new Philharmonic era with a 9/11 remembrance and a raucous premiere

The Philharmonic’s triple-Grammy-winning recording of the Adams work—which calls for large orchestra, two choruses, and electronic tracks—presented the impression of a mystical symphonic tableau, ...
The Classical Review

Michael Tilson Thomas 1944-2026

Michael Tilson Thomas passed away Wednesday at his home in San Francisco, age 81. Michael Tilson Thomas died Wednesday at his home in the San Francisco Bay area. Artistic director laureate of the New ...
The Classical Review

20th-century works highlight a weekend at the Marlboro Festival

Prokofiev’s Quintet was performed Sunday at the Marlboro Music Festival. Photo: Matt Genders. For seven weeks each summer, the Marlboro Music Festival hosts a cohort of rising and established chamber ...
The Classical Review

A tragedy haunts the past and present in Met’s “Innocence”

Vilma Jää as Markéta and Joyce DiDonato as the Waitress in Kaija Saariaho’s Innocence at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Karen Almond / Met Opera Conductor Susanna Mälkki, one of Saariaho’s most ...
The Classical Review

Piano worlds collide with a pair of compelling new releases

Garrop: Invictus. Joie de vivre. Marta Aznavoorian, pianist. Scott Speck, conductor/Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra (Cedille). Two recent recordings present compelling music for piano cast in starkly ...
The Classical Review

Mäkelä’s revisited “Firebird” takes memorable flight at Ravinia

Klaus Mäkelä conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in music of Stravinsky and Debussy Friday night at Ravinia. Photo: Kyle Dunleavy/Ravinia Festival The second and final program of Klaus Mäkelä’s ...
The Classical Review

Wang brings blazing virtuosity as well as impressive conducting with Mahler Chamber Orchestra

Yuja Wang performed concertos by Chopin and Prokofiev, conducting the Mahler Chamber Orchestra from the keyboard Wednesday night in Chicago. Photo: Todd Rosenberg It’s been four long years for her ...
The Classical Review

Powerful singing, filmic visuals make for a probing “Helena” at Bard SummerScape

Jana McIntyre as Aithra in Strauss’s “Die ägyptische Helena” at Bard SummerScape. Photo: Maria Baranova Since its establishment in 2003, Bard SummerScape has become a destination to hear operas that ...