Geoff Andrew
@geoff-andrew.bsky.social
Film critic, lecturer, programmer. Mainly about music, movies, art, politics. Views my own. Writes at greater length at geoffandrew.com
Terrific opening night for 2025-26 season @wigmore-hall.org.uk, with magnificent Matthias Goerne accompanied by David Fray in Schubert's extraordinary Schwanengesang; the pianist then provided a riveting account of the composer's final piano sonata. Sheer magic.
September 9, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Terrific opening night for 2025-26 season @wigmore-hall.org.uk, with magnificent Matthias Goerne accompanied by David Fray in Schubert's extraordinary Schwanengesang; the pianist then provided a riveting account of the composer's final piano sonata. Sheer magic.
Following my recent fairly transformative musical experience described geoffandrew.com/.../singing-... this is now my homework for next few weeks…
May 11, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Following my recent fairly transformative musical experience described geoffandrew.com/.../singing-... this is now my homework for next few weeks…
Tired of media nonsense about classical music being to 'chill out' to? Tonight's gig by @QuatuorDanel – Shostakovich & his underrated Polish friend Weinberg – anything but. Diverse deep passions; not about tuning out. Check out a superb concert @wigmore_hall or YouTube
May 6, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Tired of media nonsense about classical music being to 'chill out' to? Tonight's gig by @QuatuorDanel – Shostakovich & his underrated Polish friend Weinberg – anything but. Diverse deep passions; not about tuning out. Check out a superb concert @wigmore_hall or YouTube
2 very enjoyable concerts @wigmore-hall.org.uk today. Viktoria Mullova & Alasdair Beatson in Beethoven & Schubert (dependably superb), then 21-year-old Korean superstar Yunchan Lim indramatic (Romantic?) account of Goldberg Variations. Not sure I (or he) wanted an encore but many in the audience did
April 7, 2025 at 10:52 PM
2 very enjoyable concerts @wigmore-hall.org.uk today. Viktoria Mullova & Alasdair Beatson in Beethoven & Schubert (dependably superb), then 21-year-old Korean superstar Yunchan Lim indramatic (Romantic?) account of Goldberg Variations. Not sure I (or he) wanted an encore but many in the audience did
What better antidote to these troubled times could one hope for than Steven Osborne performing late Schubert, JS Bach, James Macmillan and a small gem by Judith Weir this lunchtime @wigmore-hall.org.uk? (The mesmerisingly superb results can be heard on Radio 3/BBC Sounds.)
February 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM
What better antidote to these troubled times could one hope for than Steven Osborne performing late Schubert, JS Bach, James Macmillan and a small gem by Judith Weir this lunchtime @wigmore-hall.org.uk? (The mesmerisingly superb results can be heard on Radio 3/BBC Sounds.)
No way would I miss Mark-Anthony Turnage's opera Festen at Royal Opera House, given amazing cast (Clayton, Finley, Degout, Romaniw), conductor Ed Gardner, & that it's from Vinterberg's impressive film. Glad I got tickets for 1st night; it's terrific. I was not alone in thinking so. Maybe more soon…
February 12, 2025 at 12:50 AM
No way would I miss Mark-Anthony Turnage's opera Festen at Royal Opera House, given amazing cast (Clayton, Finley, Degout, Romaniw), conductor Ed Gardner, & that it's from Vinterberg's impressive film. Glad I got tickets for 1st night; it's terrific. I was not alone in thinking so. Maybe more soon…
Finally got to see the great Martha Argerich perform live, this evening @wigmore-hall.org.uk, partly solo (glorious Bach!), partly with Yossif Ivanov & Mischa Maisky in trios by Haydn & Felix Mendelssohn. Words feel a little insufficient…
February 7, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Finally got to see the great Martha Argerich perform live, this evening @wigmore-hall.org.uk, partly solo (glorious Bach!), partly with Yossif Ivanov & Mischa Maisky in trios by Haydn & Felix Mendelssohn. Words feel a little insufficient…
The ongoing series of songs by Fx Mendelssohn & Liszt curated by Julius Drake @wigmore-hall.bsky.social is proving to be a revelation. In tonight's concert he was accompanying
Lucy Crowe & Karim Sulayman; simply terrific.
Lucy Crowe & Karim Sulayman; simply terrific.
January 15, 2025 at 12:55 AM
The ongoing series of songs by Fx Mendelssohn & Liszt curated by Julius Drake @wigmore-hall.bsky.social is proving to be a revelation. In tonight's concert he was accompanying
Lucy Crowe & Karim Sulayman; simply terrific.
Lucy Crowe & Karim Sulayman; simply terrific.
My first Nash Ensemble concert of 2025 @wigmore-hall.bsky.social was as excellent as ever (no wonder I seldom miss them): Wagner, R Schumann and R Strauss – including Lucy Crowe superb in the Four Last Songs.
January 11, 2025 at 11:46 PM
My first Nash Ensemble concert of 2025 @wigmore-hall.bsky.social was as excellent as ever (no wonder I seldom miss them): Wagner, R Schumann and R Strauss – including Lucy Crowe superb in the Four Last Songs.
My 1st concert of 2025 was very satisfying, by
Danny Driver @wigmore-hall.bsky.social, reliably superb in Chopin, Fauré, a new piece by Thomas Simaku & best of all, Ligeti's bracingly brilliant Musica ricercata. (A piece impossible to perform or hear when it was written: cause for hope even now?)
Danny Driver @wigmore-hall.bsky.social, reliably superb in Chopin, Fauré, a new piece by Thomas Simaku & best of all, Ligeti's bracingly brilliant Musica ricercata. (A piece impossible to perform or hear when it was written: cause for hope even now?)
January 2, 2025 at 11:52 PM
My 1st concert of 2025 was very satisfying, by
Danny Driver @wigmore-hall.bsky.social, reliably superb in Chopin, Fauré, a new piece by Thomas Simaku & best of all, Ligeti's bracingly brilliant Musica ricercata. (A piece impossible to perform or hear when it was written: cause for hope even now?)
Danny Driver @wigmore-hall.bsky.social, reliably superb in Chopin, Fauré, a new piece by Thomas Simaku & best of all, Ligeti's bracingly brilliant Musica ricercata. (A piece impossible to perform or hear when it was written: cause for hope even now?)
My final 2 concerts of 2024, both @wigmore-hall.bsky.social , were both superb. Jonathan Plowright's imaginative programme included sublime Brahms' Variations on an Original Theme. Carducci Quartet followed exemplary Haydn and Ravel with electrifying Shostakovich. Great end to my musical year.
December 29, 2024 at 12:54 AM
My final 2 concerts of 2024, both @wigmore-hall.bsky.social , were both superb. Jonathan Plowright's imaginative programme included sublime Brahms' Variations on an Original Theme. Carducci Quartet followed exemplary Haydn and Ravel with electrifying Shostakovich. Great end to my musical year.
My last concert pre-Xmas: Kit Armstrong, who @wigmore-hall.bsky.social impressed with virtuoso technique & imaginative, unusUal programming from Tallis & Handel through Mozart & Saint-Saëns to Pärt & himself (!). So refreshing to see/hear such a different (& intelligent) selection of pieces.
December 23, 2024 at 12:15 AM
My last concert pre-Xmas: Kit Armstrong, who @wigmore-hall.bsky.social impressed with virtuoso technique & imaginative, unusUal programming from Tallis & Handel through Mozart & Saint-Saëns to Pärt & himself (!). So refreshing to see/hear such a different (& intelligent) selection of pieces.
Terrific pre-Christmas musical feast at Wigmore Hall: Nash Ensemble, Boris Giltburg, Christian Gerhaher & Gerold Huber over last week, all superb. R Schumann & Beethoven featured heavily (and brilliantly).
December 19, 2024 at 11:50 PM
Terrific pre-Christmas musical feast at Wigmore Hall: Nash Ensemble, Boris Giltburg, Christian Gerhaher & Gerold Huber over last week, all superb. R Schumann & Beethoven featured heavily (and brilliantly).
So this is how we experience (consume) and think about (document) art these days?
December 12, 2024 at 12:38 AM
So this is how we experience (consume) and think about (document) art these days?
Classical piano music-lovers! If you've yet to hear Elisabeth Brauss she's not yet 30!), check her out. I've seen her play often the last 3/4 years, always impressive; tonight's Wigmore Hall recital (Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Prokofiev) was stupendous. Per hushed audience, a gem! Someone to watch!
December 2, 2024 at 11:33 PM
Classical piano music-lovers! If you've yet to hear Elisabeth Brauss she's not yet 30!), check her out. I've seen her play often the last 3/4 years, always impressive; tonight's Wigmore Hall recital (Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Prokofiev) was stupendous. Per hushed audience, a gem! Someone to watch!
We're repeatedly told classical music is to chill out to. How might folks persuaded by such nonsense respond to tonight's exhilarating recital @wigmore-hall.bsky.social by Quatuor Danel & François-Frédérick Guy of Shostakovich & his Polish pal Weinberg. You like intense? See these folks if you can!
November 25, 2024 at 11:51 PM
We're repeatedly told classical music is to chill out to. How might folks persuaded by such nonsense respond to tonight's exhilarating recital @wigmore-hall.bsky.social by Quatuor Danel & François-Frédérick Guy of Shostakovich & his Polish pal Weinberg. You like intense? See these folks if you can!
Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen never fails to amaze. London Jazz Festival gig with Harmen Fraanje a highlight of 2024. Beautifully varied, great interplay, imaginative improvisation, moving tribute to lost friend. Flawless. Find out more about Henriksen & Fraanje geoffandrew.com/2024/11/16/b...
November 23, 2024 at 12:02 AM
Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen never fails to amaze. London Jazz Festival gig with Harmen Fraanje a highlight of 2024. Beautifully varied, great interplay, imaginative improvisation, moving tribute to lost friend. Flawless. Find out more about Henriksen & Fraanje geoffandrew.com/2024/11/16/b...
After 25 years I'm sadly no longer part of the programming team at BFI Southbank. But there was a lovely farewell do: much warmth in the room from colleagues, moving messages from filmmaker friends. As a parting gift, a poster of the film that changed my life back in 73. Photo by my pal Nick James.
August 31, 2024 at 9:53 AM
After 25 years I'm sadly no longer part of the programming team at BFI Southbank. But there was a lovely farewell do: much warmth in the room from colleagues, moving messages from filmmaker friends. As a parting gift, a poster of the film that changed my life back in 73. Photo by my pal Nick James.
The dependably excellent Belcea Quartet at Wigmore Hall tonight, with composer Julian Anderson after the UK premiere of his very fine 4th String Quartet. (The bookending middle- and late-period Beethoven performances were pretty wonderful, too!)
January 25, 2024 at 12:29 AM
The dependably excellent Belcea Quartet at Wigmore Hall tonight, with composer Julian Anderson after the UK premiere of his very fine 4th String Quartet. (The bookending middle- and late-period Beethoven performances were pretty wonderful, too!)
Greatly enjoyed tonight at BFI: interview with Michael Mann, preview of Ferrari (not his best but worth seeing), chance to catch up briefly with Mann after 2 decades. Ferrari isn't his best but is serious, adult, technically brilliant, insightful, ambiguous, intriguingly detached. No bullet-points!
December 4, 2023 at 12:16 AM
Greatly enjoyed tonight at BFI: interview with Michael Mann, preview of Ferrari (not his best but worth seeing), chance to catch up briefly with Mann after 2 decades. Ferrari isn't his best but is serious, adult, technically brilliant, insightful, ambiguous, intriguingly detached. No bullet-points!
Tonight a characteristically superb set at London's Vortex Jazz Café by the very great pianist Craig Taborn (I last saw him in February 2020 just as Covid was taking off). Somewhat exhilarating, to say the least… If you don't know his work, you might like to check him out @geoffandrew.com
November 27, 2023 at 12:33 AM
Tonight a characteristically superb set at London's Vortex Jazz Café by the very great pianist Craig Taborn (I last saw him in February 2020 just as Covid was taking off). Somewhat exhilarating, to say the least… If you don't know his work, you might like to check him out @geoffandrew.com
Last Friday a stupendous London Jazz Festival gig alerted me to the existence of two wonderful albums. Words and music here… geoffandrew.com/2023/11/21/m...
November 21, 2023 at 7:18 PM
Last Friday a stupendous London Jazz Festival gig alerted me to the existence of two wonderful albums. Words and music here… geoffandrew.com/2023/11/21/m...
Lovely solo gig by Vijay Iyer this evening at Wigmore Hall: 2nd half imaginative medley of his own compositions (mainly from Break Stuff) + intriguing, barely recognisable Lennon encore. 1st half his own stuff + - what do I know? - Monk? Ellington? Maybe a touch of Trane? Whatever, was enthralling!
November 16, 2023 at 11:57 PM
Lovely solo gig by Vijay Iyer this evening at Wigmore Hall: 2nd half imaginative medley of his own compositions (mainly from Break Stuff) + intriguing, barely recognisable Lennon encore. 1st half his own stuff + - what do I know? - Monk? Ellington? Maybe a touch of Trane? Whatever, was enthralling!
Visited National Gallery's Franz Hals show. Not wholly convinced by group pictures but the portraits are remarkable for their realism, sense of character & brushwork; what first looks like detailed depiction of clothes is revealed on closer inspection to be mere daubs (mere = inspired). Recommended.
October 31, 2023 at 9:01 PM
Visited National Gallery's Franz Hals show. Not wholly convinced by group pictures but the portraits are remarkable for their realism, sense of character & brushwork; what first looks like detailed depiction of clothes is revealed on closer inspection to be mere daubs (mere = inspired). Recommended.
Remarkably fine solo viola recital at Wigmore Hall tonight by dependably excellent Timothy Ridout, receiving standing ovation for performance taking in Bach, Telemann, Britten, Kurtág, Caroline Shaw & Sally Beamish. Bach's Chaconne especially superbl, making you feel it was composed for viola!
October 27, 2023 at 11:11 PM
Remarkably fine solo viola recital at Wigmore Hall tonight by dependably excellent Timothy Ridout, receiving standing ovation for performance taking in Bach, Telemann, Britten, Kurtág, Caroline Shaw & Sally Beamish. Bach's Chaconne especially superbl, making you feel it was composed for viola!