Author Archives: John

Due to train problems, I arrived at the venue for Pappano’s masterclass in a rush – the clock in the neighbouring church had just struck 3pm – and at the entrance I nearly crashed into Pappano and the accompanist popping out of the main door to get into the stage entrance at the side ofContinue reading “Sir Antonio Pappano Masterclass, BIF Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, 19/7/24 (and talking about his new book in Buxton Opera House)”

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier Sonata No. 3 in D,  Purcell, Suite No 4, Bach Cello Suite No 1, Francesco Barsanti, Sonata in C, Scarlatti, sonata in F, Nicholas Antoine Bergiron.  Claire Babington, baroque cello, Amanda Babington, violin, recorder, musette, and David Francis, harpsichord Baroque in the North has been developing strategies to improve accessibility toContinue reading “Baroque in the North: Edale Church, Derbyshire – 14/7/24”

Jane Burnell Gasparina; Dominic Mattos Apollonia; Jonah Halton Don Pelagio; Helen Maree Cooper Don Ettore; Toby Hession Conductor; Lysanne Van Overbeek Director; Elliott Squire Designer I’m reading Thayer’s Life of Beethoven at present – the first person to have systematically tracked through by personal interview all those who knew Beethoven and were still alive inContinue reading “Haydn, La Canterina. BIF, Buxton Pavilion, 11/7/24”

M Marais Pièces de Viole, Livre IV – Suite No. 1 in D minor; F Couperin Pièces de Viole – Suite No. 1 in E minor; M Marais Pièces de Viole, Livre IV – Suite No. 2 in D major This was, I guess, a chilling-out but not very inspiring way of spending a dampContinue reading “Samuel Ng and Kristina Watt: BIF, St John’s Church, Buxton, 11/7/24”

Anna Dennis Bellezza (Beauty); Hilary Cronin Piacere (Pleasure); Hilary Summers Disinganno (Disillusion); Jorge Navarro Colorado Tempo (Time). Christian Curnyn Conductor; Jacopo Spirei Director; Anna Bonomelli Designer This is a work I’ve never heard of before, let alone heard. Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (The Triumph of Time and Disillusion), is Handel’s first oratorio,Continue reading “Handel: Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno. BIF, Buxton Opera House, 11/7/21”

J S Bach Partita No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830; Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 (“Moonlight”); D Scarlatti Three keyboard sonatas: sonata in D major Kk430, sonata in E major Kk380, sonata in C major Kk159; Brahms Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24Continue reading “Angela Hewitt, BIF, St John’s Church Buxton, 10/7/24”

Schubert: Piano Sonatas D958, 959, 960 This is the first time I have sat through a live programme of Schubert’s last 3 sonatas. It is quite an exhausting though also a fascinating and rewarding experience…..I felt drained by the end. Paul Lewis seemed as fresh at the end of the concert as at the beginning.Continue reading “Paul Lewis, BIF, St John’s Church Buxton, 6/7/24”

Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 4 in A minor, D537; Piano Sonata No. 9 in B, D575[ Piano Sonata No. 18 in G, D894 5 July was of course the day after the General Election polling day and as I had been at the local count all night and didn’t get to bed till 6am IContinue reading “Paul Lewis, Buxton International Festival (BIF), St John’s Church Buxton, 5/7/24”

Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Pekka Kuusisto director, violin This was described on the South Bank website as ‘showcasing theworks of Shostakovich, DSCH is a musical experience fusing theatre, lightingand visual elements to challenge the traditional concert form’.  Hmmm, I thought, but having heard and enjoyed broadcasts of some of Kuusisto ‘s Proms performances over the lastContinue reading “DSCH,  QEH, 30/6/24”

Conductor Alexander Soddy; Fiordiligi, Golda Schultzr; Dorabella, Samantha Hankey; Ferrando, Daniel Behle; Guglielmo, Andrè Schuen; Don Alfonso, Gerald Finley; Despina, Jennifer France.  Director, Jan Philipp Gloger; Revival Director, Oliver Platt; Set Designer, Ben Baur; Costume Designer, Karin Jud, Lighting Designer, Bernd Purkrabek I was not planning to go to this but then decided to campaignContinue reading “Mozart, Cosi Fan Tutte: ROHCG, 29/6/24”