Handel Sonata in G minor, HWV 580; Chaconne in G major, HWV 435; D Scarlatti Sonata in G minor, K 8; Sonata in E major, K 20; Sonata in A minor, K 54; Sonata in Minor, K 213; Sonata in D major, K 214; G.F. Handel Suite No 1 in B flat major, HWV 434;Continue reading “Maha Esfahani (harpsichord), St John’s Church, Buxton International Festival 12/7/26”
Author Archives: John
Handel, Amadigi di Gaula: Buxton Festival, 12/7/26
English Concert, Erin Helyard Conductor; Olivia Fuchs Director; Eleanor Bull Designer; Ben Pickersgill Lighting Designer. Tim Morgan Amadigi; Rowan Pierce, Oriana; Hilary Cronin, Melissa; James Hall ,Dardano I saw this in concert form a couple of years ago at St Martins in the Fields in London, but have never been to a staged performance. IContinue reading “Handel, Amadigi di Gaula: Buxton Festival, 12/7/26”
Tovesco Trio, Elbephilharmonie Small Hall, Hamburg
Veronika Rädler Violin; Tatu Kauppinen Cello; Francesco Maccarrone Piano. Haydn Trio in E flat major Hob. XV:29; Rebecca Clarke, Trio for violin, violoncello and piano; Bright ShengFour Movements for Piano Trio; Brahms, Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor op. 101 I decided to spend a day and two nights in Hamburg, coming back fromContinue reading “Tovesco Trio, Elbephilharmonie Small Hall, Hamburg”
Wagner, Tristan and Isolde. LSO, Pappano, Barbican 1/7/26
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Antonio Pappano conductor; Clay Hilley Tristan; Sara Jakubiak Isolde; Marina Prudenskaya Brangaene; Franz-Josef Selig King Marke; Gyula Orendt Kurwenall Neal Cooper Melot; Michael Gibson Sailor/Shepherd; James Emerson Steersman; London Symphony Chorus I got myself into a ridiculous situation over this concert. I bought the ticket over a year ago and hadContinue reading “Wagner, Tristan and Isolde. LSO, Pappano, Barbican 1/7/26”
Bellini, I Puritani: ROHCG Friends Dress Rehearsal, 27/6/26
Director, Richard Jones; Set Designer, Hyemi Shin; Costume Designer, Nicky Gillibrand; Lighting Designer, Adam Silverman; Movement Director, Sarah Fahie; Video Designer, Sasha Balmazi-Owen. Conductor, Riccardo Frizza; Lord Arturo Talbot, Francesco Demuro; Elvira, Lisette Oropesa; Sir Giorgio Valton, Ildebrando D’Arcangelo; Sir Riccardo Forth, Andrzej Filończyk; Enrichetta di Francia, Marcela Rahal; Lord Gualtiero Valton, Blaise Malaba; SirContinue reading “Bellini, I Puritani: ROHCG Friends Dress Rehearsal, 27/6/26”
Handel, Serse (concert performance). Academy of Ancient Music, Barbican 19/6/26
Academy of Ancient Music , Laurence Cummings director & harpsichord; Paula Murrihy, Serse; Louise Alder, Romilda; Rachel Redmond, Atalanta; Rebecca Leggett, Arsamene; Claudia Huckle, Amastre; Luca Tittoto, Ariodate; Thomas Chenhall, Elviro I am pretty sure I saw Xerxes at ENO at some point in the last 20 years, maybe at the last ENO revival inContinue reading “Handel, Serse (concert performance). Academy of Ancient Music, Barbican 19/6/26”
Puccini, La Fanciulla del West, Opera Holland Park, 10/6/26
Martin Lloyd-Evans, Director; Matthew Kofi Waldren, Conductor; Anna Reid, Designer; Jamie Platt, Lighting Designer. Amanda Echalaz, Minnie; Robert Hayward, Jack Rance; Josè de Eça, Dick; Zwakele Tshabalala, Nick; Alaric Green, Ashby; Aidan Edwards; Sonora; Jamie Formoy, Trin This is a work which has always been a favourite of mine but which I have only seenContinue reading “Puccini, La Fanciulla del West, Opera Holland Park, 10/6/26”
Mahler, Halle, Wong: Bridgewater Hall, 28/5/26
Mahler, 6th Symphony, Kahchun Wong conductor, Halle Orchestra I have been to many fine performances of this work over the years – conducted by Rattle, Haitink, Chailly, Bychkov, Boulez and others, the most recent Rattle and the BRSO at the Proms in September 2024, and I grew up with the Bernstein/NYPO CBS recording. I alwaysContinue reading “Mahler, Halle, Wong: Bridgewater Hall, 28/5/26”
Wagner, Götterdämmerung extracts; LSO, Barbican, 24/5/26
Wagner Siegfried Idyll; Wagner Excerpts from Götterdämmerung. London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle conductor. Anja Kampe Brünnhilde. Elizabeth DeShong Waltraute This concert was organised in probably the best way to arrange these ‘bleeding chunks’. Dawn and Siegfried’s Rhine Jourmey, plus Waltraute’s narration in the first half; Sigfried’s Idyll, leading to the Funeral March and theContinue reading “Wagner, Götterdämmerung extracts; LSO, Barbican, 24/5/26”
Nielsen, Storgårds: BBC Philharmonic, Bridgewater Hall, 16/5/26
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds conductor, Simone Lamsma violin. Rautavaara, Cantus Arcticus; Sibelius, Violin Concerto; Nielsen, Symphony No. 5 This was an absorbing concert and one I enjoyed very much. It also had quite a full and very appreciative audience. The BBC Philharmonic sounded glorious – really at the top of their game, and thisContinue reading “Nielsen, Storgårds: BBC Philharmonic, Bridgewater Hall, 16/5/26”
John's musical journey 