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‘Arcadia Lost is the title of this collection of live recordings, in which Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem sits slightly oddly alongside three of Vaughan Williams’ versions of the pastoral. Yet the excellence of all the performances is more than enough to set aside any questions about whether they belong together. Mark Wigglesworth’s account of the Britten is a slow burner; he resists the temptation to turn it into a virtuoso showpiece for the fine Sydney orchestra from the start, but steadily ratchets up the intensity through the first movement and scherzo, leaving the finale to resolve its tensions. In The Lark Ascending, too, there’s something purposeful rather than just decorative about the scene-painting.’
Andrew Clements, The Guardian; February 24th 2012

‘Here is a beautiful little gem of a release from the remarkable Australian Melba label. Devoted to two of the biggest names in English music, Arcadia Lost features three scores by Vaughan Williams (The Lark Ascending, Flos Campi and On Wenlock Edge) and the Sinfonia da Requiem by Benjamin Britten…Under the inspired, profound and rigorous direction of English conductor Mark Wigglesworth the works presented in this recording recapture a level of emotion too often masked by a disconcertingly academic approach.’
Jean-Jacques Millo, Opus Haute Définition; February 6th 2012

‘Vaughan Williams is the more popular name on this unexpectedly brilliant Australian compilation, and one hopes that those tempted by an Antipodean take on The Lark Ascending will stick around for Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem. Wigglesworth’s live performance is magnificently imposing, reminding you of what an uncomfortable listen this piece can be…Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending…is excellent – Michael Dauth’s pure-toned violin solo is gorgeous, with Wigglesworth’s slimmed down orchestral support a model of discretion.’
Graham Rickson, The Arts Desk; March 3rd 2012

‘Here’s yet another classy SACD offering from the Australian Melba label. The three items featuring the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Mark Wigglesworth’s shapely lead emanate from live concerts held within the Sydney Opera House on the first three days in October 2009. Not even a few isolated coughs and platform noises can tarnish one of the most probing, routine-free readings of The Lark Ascending to have come my way over recent years. A former leader of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Michael Dauth performs with heartwarming conviction and impressive security, and he generates a memorable rapport with Wigglesworth and company. The utterly magical hush distilled from 12’27” is alone worth the price of admission.
There’s plenty of perception, spontaneity and ardor, too, in Flos Campi, which finds the orchestra’s principal viola Roger Benedict in hugely eloquent, technically flawless form (his burnished tone a joy to encounter) and features a beautifully prepared choral contribution from Cantillation. Wigglesworth paces proceedings to a finessed nicety, drawing out every ounce of rapt languor and tender intimacy from RVW’s yearningly sensuous paean to earthly love…What a bewitching, breathtakingly original masterwork it is!
Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem is the interloper in this all-Vaughan Williams programme – albeit a most welcome one, given the unforced eloquence and commitment to its cause displayed by these accomplished artists. I like the purposeful tread of the ominous opening ‘Lacrymosa’, the piercing clash of major and minor at its apex hitting home with formidable cumulative impact, and if the comparatively distant balance slightly tames the savage bite of the hair-raising central scherzo (‘Dies Irae’), there’s no want of soothing compassion in the deeply moving finale (‘Requiem Aeternam’). Overall, Wigglesworth comfortably holds his own against some stiff competition from the likes of Previn, Rattle (both EMI) and Slatkin (RCA).’
Andrew Achenbach, The Classical Review; February 1st 2012

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read more ]]> http://www.markwigglesworth.com/news/mark-wigglesworth-and-the-sydney-symphony/feed/ 0 http://www.markwigglesworth.com/news/mark-wigglesworth-and-the-bayerische-staatsoper/ http://www.markwigglesworth.com/news/mark-wigglesworth-and-the-bayerische-staatsoper/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:00:20 +0000 admin http://www.markwigglesworth.com/?p=902 Mark Wigglesworth travels to Hong Kong with the Bavarian State Opera. Together they give four performances of Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte as part of the 2012 Hong Kong Arts Festival.

more information ]]> http://www.markwigglesworth.com/news/mark-wigglesworth-and-the-bayerische-staatsoper/feed/ 0 http://www.markwigglesworth.com/news/mark-wigglesworth-and-the-netherlands-radio-philharmonic/ http://www.markwigglesworth.com/news/mark-wigglesworth-and-the-netherlands-radio-philharmonic/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:49:31 +0000 admin http://www.markwigglesworth.com/?p=883 Continue reading →]]> This week Mark Wigglesworth conducts the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic in the Vredenburg, Utrecht and the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. A programme of music from the 1920s brings together Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No 7, orchestral excerpts from Alban Berg’s Wozzeck (with soprano Susan Gritton) and Maurice Ravel’s La Valse and Bolero.