WHAT’S ON

The Samling Concert, The Sage Gateshead, 7pm, Saturday, showcases young professional singers from the UK, Portugal, Armenia, South Korea and India. 0191-443 4661.

REVIEWS

Mahler: Alan Gilbert (BISSACD- 1710)

Mahler’s Symphony No 9 is given a superb treatment by Alan Gilbert, conducting the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. The layered playing of strings is conveyed with a breathtaking clarity, while the vibrant inner movements achieve a perfect balance with the expansive outer movements.

Jansen: Beethoven/Britten (Decca 4781530)

Dutch violin star Janine Jansen players an unusual coupling of Beethoven’s and Britten’s violin concertos. The less familiar Britten concerto is a real treat. Highly recommended.

Stokowski: The Maverick Conductor (EMI Classics 6985552)

Leopold Stokowski was one of the most flamboyant conductors of the 20th Century.

The music of Schoenberg, Shostakovich, Mahler, Rachmaninov, Sibelius and Stravinsky featured prominently in his concerts and he gave the first US performances of the music of a whole host of other contemporary composers. This unique ten-CD under EMI’s Icon label carries a crop of some of his most famous recordings.

A must.