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Review: LSO/Pappano, Barbican
Of all our orchestras, the London Symphony Orchestra is the closest to America in its brazen, sassy sound, and it has always been welcoming to American composers and conductors. Keep reading »
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Five stars for Wynton Marsalis’s dazzlingTrumpet Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra
With Simon Rattle having departed and plans for a new concert hall in the City of London long shelved, the London Symphony Orchestra could be forgiven for feeling down in the dumps. Instead, the announcement of its 2024-25 season showed all the signs of an organisation powering forwards. Keep reading »
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LSO/Pappano/Balsom review – elephant honks kick off Wynton Marsalis’s trumpet showcase
Rather like the American quilts whose fabric embeds a story, Wynton Marsalis’s new Trumpet Concerto is a patchwork of the history of the instrument and some of its most celebrated exponents, from Louis Armstrong to Frenchman Maurice André. Over six movements, spanning 35 minutes, Marsalis has stitched together myriad styles and characteristics, jumping continents and name-checking composers and players en passant, with a metaphorical doffing of the “Derby hat” mute in tribute. Keep reading »
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LSO/Alison Balsom, Barbican review: An astonishing feat of stamina
There may be things that Wynton Marsalis does not know about the trumpet – but from the UK premiere of his new concerto, presented by Alison Balsom, the LSO and Antonio Pappano at the Barbican last night, it’s hard to imagine what. Keep reading »
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LSO/Pappano review — a virtuosic Alison Balsom and sumptuous Ravel
It would be a dull soul who didn’t enjoy at least some aspects of Wynton Marsalis’s new Trumpet Concerto, especially as its UK premiere was delivered with such panache by Alison Balsom and the London Symphony Orchestra. The music exudes joy and energy throughout its six movements. Keep reading »
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Alison Balsom gives the UK premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Trumpet Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Antonio Pappano
Alison Balsom gives the UK premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Trumpet Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) and its Chief Conductor Designate Sir Antonio Pappano at the Barbican (11 April), with subsequent performances at Bristol Beacon (12 April); Philharmonie, Cologne (23 April) and Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg (30 April). Keep reading »