Nick Shave

Nick Shave writes for The Guardian and is contributing editor of BBC Music Magazine. A regular reviewer and blogger of the Proms, he can usually be found at the Royal Albert Hall with only seconds to spare, breaking into an ungainly powerwalk somewhere between the ticket collection desk and the stalls
Over 8 weeks of classical music concerts at the Royal Albert Hall come to a close with the traditional Last Night concert. Nick Shave reports from a very British evening of music and balloons
Searing performances of Sibelius, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky and Ravel from an orchestra whose future is in doubt
Colourful Tchaikovsky from the Pittsburgh Symphony but Grimaud was the star attraction at this Prom
The pianist's account of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25 leaves Nick Shave cold
Nick Shave asks what's happened to the traditional concert experience
How will commissions from a trio of contemporary composers measure up? Nick Shave finds out
Lisa Batiashvili finds powerful emotion in the dark spirit of Shostakovich's First Violin Concerto
Nick Shave reflects at the mid-point of the festival on what makes for an extraordinary performance