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, BirminghamConductor Andris Nelsons's command of his forces – not quite the thousand associated with Mahler's Eighth, but massive nevertheless – allowed him to exploit Birmingham Symphony Hall's acoustic to the full, writes Rian Evans
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, 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