For all its dramatic sweep, there still seems something provisional about Andris Nelsons's Mahler with the CBSO, as if he, as much as his audience, can still be surprised by what these works contain, writes Andrew Clements
Symphony Hall, BirminghamAndris Nelsons's instinct for sculpting the phrases with exactly the right emotional weight, while still driving the music forward, is what holds your attention, writes Rian Evans
Symphony Hall, BirminghamEdward Gardner's all-English programme started with a chilly and distant version of Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, writes Andrew Clements
Symphony Hall, BirminghamIt would be hard to imagine Kari Kriikku giving a more gripping performance of Magnus Lindberg's Clarinet Concerto than this one with Andris Nelsons and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, writes Rian Evans
Symphony Hall, BirminghamThis UK premiere of Unsuk Chin's Rocaná, directed by Ilan Volkov, used a massive orchestra with nine percussionists, writes Rian Evans
Symphony Hall, BirminghamThe centrepiece of Andris Nelsons' Seascapes concert was a virtuoso trumpet performance by Hakan Hardenberger, writes Andrew Clements
Symphony Hall, BirminghamAndris Nelsons was on vibrant form during a complementary pairing of Wagner's overture to Die Meistersinger with Beethoven's Fifth, writes Rian Evans
Royal Albert Hall, LondonNelsons relished every detail of the instrumental palette and the CBSO's immense dynamic range found full expression in an evening of orchestral lushness, writes Andrew Clements
Symphony Hall, Birmingham This was an unusual programme, focusing on oboe, bassoon and contrabassoon, and featured the premiere of John Woolrich's piece Falling Down, writes Rian Evans
Symphony Hall, Birmingham The opening of Wagner's Rienzi Overture here was exquisitely moulded, and the tension allowed to build with total naturalness