Author Archives: John

Herrmann, Vertigo – Suite; Korngold, Violin Concerto; Prokofiev, Symphony No. 3 in C minor. Vadim Gluzman violin; BBC Symphony Orchestra, Gustavo Gimeno conductor The insertion of the Korngold concerto was a fairly late one – it was originally meant to be Mason Bates’ piano concerto, with Danil Trifonov playing the solo part – he howeverContinue reading “Korngold/Prokofiev – BBC Symphony Orchestra, Gimeno: RAH Proms 30/7/23”

Liberata Collective; Ensemble Hesperi. Cast:  Christian Joel, Orlando; Joanna Harries, Medoro; Olivia Doutney, Angelica; Susanna MacRae, Dorinda; Jolyon Loy, Zoroastro; Musical Director, Adrian Butterfield The Liberata Collective apparently wants to recreate the experience of Baroque opera for modern audiences: using period instruments, providing printed libretti, and most crucially, performing according to the art of BaroqueContinue reading “Buxton Festival: Handel, Orlando – 21/7/23”

Paul Lewis (piano): Schubert – Piano Sonata No. 7 in E flat major, D568; Piano Sonata No. 14 in A minor, D784; Piano Sonata No. 17 in D major, D850; Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major, D840; Piano Sonata No. 13 in A major, D664; Piano Sonata No. 16 in A minor, D845 TheseContinue reading “Buxton Festival: Paul Lewis, 19&20/7/23”

Coleridge-Taylor Piano Trio in E minor; R Clarke Lullaby and Grotesque for viola and cello; Elgar Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84 Kaleidoscope, I assume, is something a bit like Ensemble 360 in Sheffield, a group of musicians that can offer concerts with differing numbers and groups of instruments – here ranging from 2Continue reading “Buxton Festival:  Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective 20/7/23”

Beethoven String Quartet No. 16 in F, Op. 135; Britten String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94; Schubert String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D810, ‘Death and the Maiden’ This was an interesting programme of ‘late’ (not so much the case with Schubert) string quartets. Though I have heard the Beethoven on a number ofContinue reading “Buxton Festival: Sacconi String Quartet, St John’s Church – 12/7/23”

Lucy Crowe (soprano), Joseph Middleton (piano). Songs by: G Gershwin Summertime; A Copland Nature, the gentlest mother (from 12 Poems of Emily Dickinson); S Barber Sure on this shining night, Op. 13/3; W Walton Through gilded trellises; J Ireland The trellis; I Gurney The fields are full; B Britten Seascape (from On This Island); GContinue reading “Buxton Festival: Lucy Crowe, St John’s Church – 12/7/23”

Director, Nicholas Hytner; Designer, Bob Crowley; Lighting Designer, Mark Henderson.  Conductor, Bertrand De Billy; Don Carlos, Brian Jagde; Elizabeth of Valois, Lise Davidsen; Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa, Luca Micheletti; Princess Eboli, Yulia Matochkina; King Philip II, John Relyea; Grand Inquisitor, Taras Shtondal; Monk, Alexander Köpeczi; Tebaldo, Ella Taylor; Count of Lerma, Michael Gibson. I supposeContinue reading “Verdi, Don Carlo: ROHCG 9/7/23”

Figaro, Mattia Olivieri; Susanna, Siobhan Stagg; Count Almaviva, Stéphane Degout; Countess Almaviva, Hrachuhí Bassénz; Cherubino, Anna Stéphany; Bartolo, Maurizio Muraro; Marcellina, Dorothea Röschmann; Don Basilio, Krystian Adam; Antonio, Jeremy White; Don Curzio, Peter Bronder; Barbarina, Sarah Dufresne. Conductor, Joana Mallwitz; Director, David Mcvicar; Designer, Tanya Mccallin; Lighting Designer; Paule Constable The last time I sawContinue reading “Mozart, Marriage of Figaro: ROHCG 8/7/23”

BBC Philharmonic, Anja Bihlmaier conductor: Brahms Hungarian Dances No. 1, 3 & 10; Bartok Concerto for Orchestra.  Manchester Collective: Hannah Peel, Neon; Michael Gordon, Industry; Steve Reich, Double Sextet I had thought at first this was something to do with the Manchester International Festival, but it wasn’t! Quote from the publicity blurb: “The orchestras andContinue reading “Manchester Classical – various events at the Bridgewater Hall 24/6/23”

The Hallé with Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and Leeds Festival Chorus: Sofi Jeannin conductor; Claire Rutter soprano; Rosie Aldridge mezzo-soprano; Sam Furness tenor; David Shipley bass I am currently reading and enjoying Fiona Maddock’s latest book about Rachmaninov in Exile. Rachmaninov visited Sheffield City Hall on several occasions in the 1930’s, and described it as theContinue reading “Verdi Requiem: Halle, Sheffield City Hall, 18 /06/23”