The Five Best Classical Concerts of the Year on STAGE+
What were the best concerts of the last year? STAGE+ broadcasts weekly live streams and premieres from around the world. We’ve chosen our five favourites for you.
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Yunchan Lim in Seoul: Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky & Mussorgsky
Seoul Arts Center
When Yunchan Lim came home to Seoul for this recital from the Seoul Arts Center – filmed in June 2024 – he was given a rockstar reception. The young pianist, who shot to fame after his breathtaking triumph at the Van Cliburn Competition in 2022, has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting talents in classical music. His performance here immediately demonstrates why. He brings his characteristic mixture of musicality, stunning technique and inspirational interpretation to the music of three very different composers from the Romantic era: two favourite Songs without Words by Mendelssohn, followed by two masterpieces of descriptive music, Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
DG125 – John Williams in Tokyo
Suntory Hall
In September 2023, film music legend John Williams made a hotly anticipated appearance with the Saito Kinen Orchestra as part of the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival in Tokyo. For this very special musical event, filmed in Tokyo’s renowned Suntory Hall as part of Deutsche Grammophon’s 125th anniversary celebrations, he takes up the baton to conduct music from some of his most iconic scores: Superman, Schindler’s List, Star Wars, and Harry Potter. His musical colleague Stépane Denève also conducted selections from E.T., Far and Away, and a tribute to Seiji Ozawa, including Sound the Bells!, a piece inspired by Japan’s monumental temple bells.
Joana Mallwitz conducts Prokofiev, Weill & Mahler
Konzerthaus Berlin
To open her first season as chief conductor and artistic director of the Konzerthausorchester in Berlin, Joana Mallwitz chose the first symphonies of three very different composers. She began with Prokofiev’s “Classical” Symphony – a playful and elegant example of early 20th-century neo-classicism, followed by Kurt Weill’s rarely performed First Symphony from 1921. The program concluded with Mahler’s emotionally charged Symphony No. 1, a masterpiece that redefined the symphonic genre. Mallwitz’s interpretation brought vitality, intensity, and a touch of the sublime to each of these extraordinary works.
DG125 – Víkingur Ólafsson: Bach’s Goldberg Variations
Seoul Arts Center
Víkingur Ólafsson’s recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations was one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of 2023, following his award-winning 2018 Bach album. This monumental project fulfilled a long-held ambition for the Icelandic pianist, who is now touring the Goldberg Variations around the world. Here he performs this iconic work live in the South Korean capital, with audiences in Seoul and worldwide via STAGE+’s live stream.
Nadine Sierra & Bryn Terfel in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore
Royal Opera House
Nadine Sierra and Bryn Terfel star in Laurent Pelly’s vibrant production of Donizetti’s most popular comedy, *L’elisir d’amore*, at London’s Royal Opera House. Sierra dazzles as the spirited Adina, the object of Nemorino’s (Liparit Avetisyan) affection, while Terfel brings his unmatched charisma and comedic flair to the role of Dulcamara, the quirky quack doctor whose “love potion” leads to unexpected twists. Under the baton of conductor Sesto Quatrini, the Royal Opera Orchestra delivers a sparkling performance that makes this production truly irresistible.
All concerts are available on STAGE+, the streaming service for classical music. Register now and take advantage of the free trial at: http://www.stage-plus.com/tickets
