Author Archives: John

Elgar Cockaigne (In London Town), Ravel Piano Concerto in G, Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 2 ‘A London Symphony’).  BBC Philharmonic- John Wilson, conductor, Steven Osborne, piano This programme was a very interesting one in terms of the connections between the pieces – the VW and Ravel use ‘popular’ music in a complex symphonic texture, VW wasContinue reading “Elgar/Ravel/Vaughan Williams: BBC Philharmonic / Wilson/Osborne; Sheffield City Hall 7/4/22”

Berlioz, Harold en Italie; Kodály, Dances of Galánta; Tchaikovsky, Francesca da Rimini. Halle Orchestra: Lionel Bringuier, conductor; Timothy Ridout, viola There are a number of connections here possibly in terms of this programme – all have wild elements to their close, two are relatively early works, and the Kodaly and the Tchaikovsky are great orchestralContinue reading “Berlioz/Kodaly/Tchaikovsky – Halle Orchestra, Bringuier/Ridout – Bridgewater Hall 31/3/22”

Patrick Furrer, Conductor; Sonya Yoncheva, Élisabeth De Valois; Jamie Barton, Eboli; Matthew Polenzani, Don Carlos; Eric Owens, Philippe II; Etienne Dupuis,  Rodrigue Marquis de Posa; John Relyea, Grand Inquisitor; Director, David Mcvicar; Set Design, Charles Edwards So – this was my first trip after two weeks of isolation from anything social at all! Don CarlosContinue reading “Verdi: Don Carlos. Met Opera live stream to Sheffield Cinema. 26/03/22”

Der Holländer – John Lundgren; Daland – Georg Zeppenfeld; Senta – Asmik Grigorian; Erik – Eric Cutler; Mary – Marina Prudenskaya; Der Steuermann – Attilio Glaser; Conductor – Oksana Lyniv; Director – Dmitri Tcherniakov; Sets – Dmitri Tcherniakov; Costumes – Elena Zaytseva I had been planning to go to the ROHCG Peter Grimes, the ENOContinue reading “Der Fliegende Holländer: Bayreuther Festspiele 2021 via YouTube”

Production, Elijah Moshinsky; Set and Costume Designer, Michael Yeargan; Conductor, Marek Janowski. Lise Davidsen, Ariadne; Brenda Rae, Zerbinetta; Isabel Leonard, Composer; Brandon Jovanovich, Bacchus; Sean Michael Plumb, Harlequin; Johannes Martin Kränzle, Music Master; Wolfgang Brendel, Major-Domo I am not sure I have ever seen this work live before – and of course this wasn’t reallyContinue reading “R.Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos. Met Opera live stream to Sheffield Curzon Cinema. 12/03/22”

Sky Ingram, Alcina; Patrick Terry, Ruggiero; Mari Askvik, Bradamante; Fflur Wyn, Morgana; Nick Pritchard, Oronte, Claire Pascoe, Melissa. Laurence Cummings, Conductor; Tim Albery, Director; Hannah Clark, Set and Costume Designer; “Tim Albery‘s new production is inspired by Princess Margaret’s Mustique or Richard Branson’s Necker – a very private, tropical island retreat. In this case, theContinue reading “Handel: Alcina. Opera North, Lowry Theatre, Salford 11/03/22”

London Symphony Orchestra, Harry Christophers (replacing Simon Rattle). Lucy Crowe soprano, Andrew Staples tenor, Roderick Williams baritone, LS0 Chorus. Haydn – The Creation (sung in English) This Thursday performance was part of the Barbican’s  40th Anniversary celebrations, and there was a free glass of prosecco to greet everyone with a ticket, plus some young /local community performers. ThereContinue reading “Haydn The Creation – LSO, Christophers. Barbican, 03/03/22”

String Quartet No. 1, “Kreutzer Sonata”, Janacek; String Quartet No 2, in D Minor, Smetana: Fibonacci Quartet The Fibonacci String Quartet was formed in September 2019 and consists of students of David Takeno and Louise Hopkins at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK. It is an international ensemble, bringing together Czech,Continue reading “Fibonacci Quartet  Janacek and Smetana, St Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield 03/03/22”

Sir András Schiff, fortepiano; Erich Höbarth, violin,  and Christophe Coin, ‘cello. Joseph Haydn : Two piano sonatas and two trios This was meant to be part of a Haydn chamber music festival going on at the Wigmore Hall throughout the week (I was just attending one of the performances) with an intended programme of 2Continue reading “Schiff / Haydn: Wigmore Hall, 02/03/22”

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla – Conductor; Patricia Kopatchinskaja – Violin; Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 This was an incredibly powerful and exciting – but also stylish – concert. I am sure it will be one of my highlights of the year, when I look back in December. It was a concert of course very much with the thoughtContinue reading “CBSO/Mirga/Kopatchinskaja: Tchaikovsky/Stravinsky. Symphony Hall, Birmingham 02/03/22”