Archive - Crepuscular Music | Classical Music Performance Reviews

A Seraphic Pinnacle of Soulful Prayer: Handel’s ‘Jephtha’ with Il Pomo d’oro, Michael Spyres and Joyce DiDonato at the Barbican

Celestial lustre stirred this oratorio courtesy of sterling singers and a primed ensemble.

May 8 •

Capriccios Pinch Communication: Lucas Debargue’s Proficient Riffs on Fauré, Beethoven and Chopin

Misfired signals singed cohesion in this effort by the pianist at Wigmore Hall.

May 6 •

April 2025

A Coarsely Coruscating Commentary on Baroque Expression: Yunchan Lim’s ‘Goldberg Variations’ at Wigmore Hall

Dazzling listeners with zealous takes, the pianist delivered virtuosity deprived of subtext.

Apr 8 •

February 2025

Compositions Camouflage in Precious Artefacts: Shiyeon Sung and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Cadogan Hall

Together with violinist Johan Dalene the conductor escorted Sibelius, Tchaikovsky and Nielsen through a stirring but sleepy museum.

Feb 28 •

Embattled Characters Scrap Shostakovich’s Self-Censorship: The Jerusalem Quartet at Wigmore Hall

Imbuing his benumbed motifs with lyricism, the ensemble reconfigured the composer’s works with an excessive sentimental touch.

Feb 25 •

A Reflection on Schoenberg at 150: Paavo Järvi and the LA Philharmonic with Seong-Jin Cho

This first guest post by Janelle Kim reviews intense polarities of music in a night of Schoenberg, Ravel and Grażyna Bacewicz at Walt Disney Concert…

Feb 20 •

Eruptions of Subconscious Torment Split the Psyche: Jakub Hrůša and BBC Symphony Orchestra at Barbican Centre

The limitless conductor guided the ensemble through inactionable angst in works by Pavel Haas, Beethoven and Shostakovich

Feb 1 •

January 2025

Sepulchral Sets and an Unsteady Cast Restrain "Aïda": Royal Opera Review

Jan 30 •

Introducing Crepuscular Music: A Note for Fiction and Non-Fiction Readers

This Substack is undergoing change.

Jan 25 •

Stalking Angst Propels the Heartbeat of "Jenůfa": Royal Opera Review

Jan 18 •

December 2024

Exuberance Embraces a Stylistic Straitjacket: Elisabeth Brauss at Wigmore Hall

The masterfully practised pianist enwrapped her ‘Farewell’ series in a fascinating yet restrictive template.

Dec 3, 2024 •

November 2024

Rigid Rage Inhibits the Romantics: Daniel Barenboim and West-Eastern Divan Orchestra Resteer Brahms and Mendelssohn at Royal Festival Hall

Nov 11, 2024 •

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