Daniil Trifonov 
Pat O’Kelly
The NCH’s 2017/18 International Concert Series is coming to a close. One programme remains on June 12 – the first visit here of the Würth Philharmonic with Russian-born violinist Maxim Vengerov as both soloist and conductor. The principal works are Max Bruch’s evergreen 1st Concerto and Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony, which almost tops the composer’s fifth in his popularity stakes.
But there have been a number of highlights in the past year not least the young Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov. His Chopin-related recital in December brought truly remarkable performances of Chopin’s own 2nd Sonata and Rakhmaninov’s Chopin Variations. Happily Trifonov is to return in 2019.
Members of the Estonian Chamber Choir paid tribute to some of their compatriots in their programme in January. While the music of Arvo Pärt is familiar, that of both Cyrillus Kreek and Veljo Tormis is less well known here. The Estonians gave us a capella choral singing par excellence.
Not impressed
I went to mezzo Magdalena Kožená’s Baroque Heroines with some trepidation in February, as when I heard her Carmen at the Salzburg festival in 2012 I was decidedly less than impressed. So were many of the festival aficionados, as, while taking her curtain calls, their disapproval was loud and clear. However, at the NCH her interpretations of Rameau and Charpentier were revelatory and, accompanied by French ensemble Le Concert d’Astrée, the result was magical.
The Czech Philharmonic returned to the NCH after a lengthy absence also in February. Three concerts were spread over a weekend with expressive US cellist Alisa Weilerstein as soloist in Dvorák’s Concerto. In an all-Czech repertoire there were rousing performances of his New World Symphony as well as the six patriotic tone poems comprising Smetana’s Ma Vlast (My Country).
Earlier this month, the 125th anniversary tour by the Bournemouth Symphony had Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski in tow for a stunning account of Tchaikovsky’s 1st Piano Concerto. The symphony was Walton’s first, which the orchestra recently recorded. I loved it.
But why am I reminiscing over a season that is almost at an end? Well, because the NCH recently announced its 2018/19 programme. It opens on August 29 with the Baltimore Symphony under Marin Alsop and Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti. The programme is a centenary celebration of Leonard Bernstein, born August 25, 1918.
Other visiting bands will include the Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment on March 23. With András Schiff as conductor and soloist, Brahms 1st Piano Concerto should be hugely stimulating.
The London Symphony returns on June 14, 2019 under principal guest conductor Gianandrea Noseda. This concert also brings Daniil Trifonov back for Shostakovich’s 1st Piano Concerto with Philip Cobb joining him for the work’s engaging trumpet obbligato.
Among other delights, the US Emerson Quartet returns on November 6 and English pianist Paul Lewis will tackle Beethoven’s demanding Diabelli Variations on February 6. Our own Tara Erraught will have John O’Conor as her pianist in songs by Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler as well as arias by Rossini on April 26.
And these are just samples to whet the musical appetite.
