Belgian National Orchestra / Jonathan Bloxham by Mozart, Mahler, Fr. 29 Sept. 2023, Ab (2023/2023), Dirigat Jonathan Bloxham, deSingel, Antwerpen, Belgien

Illustrious visitors from the capital open DE SINGEL’s symphonic concert season. The Belgian National Orchestra is bringing along guest conductor Jonathan Bloxham: the former right hand of Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and now himself one of the fastest rising stars in the conductor firmament. For his debut with the national orchestra, Bloxham places Mozart alongside Mahler; familiar musical waters beside uncharted terrain. As conductor in residence and artistic advisor to the London Mozart Players, the music of Mozart holds almost no secrets for the Brit. With Mahler’s sublime first symphony however, he is venturing into a new sound world. Although Mahler’s visionary orchestral score is right up this versatile conductor’s street. Mozart’s groundbreaking Piano Concerto No. 9 is in the hands of the Australian pianist and great Mozart specialist Kristian Bezuidenhout, who last year made a wonderful recording of this ‘jeunehomme’ with Harmonia Mundi. It is with good reason that Alfred Brendel described this concerto as ‘one of the great wonders of the world’.