Author Archives: John

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”

BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Mark Wigglesworth. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 3 (Pastoral); On Wenlock Edge; Symphony No 5. Tenor soloist: Alessandro Fisher Sadly, the underlying theme of this concert (two war-based symphonies) was only too relevant to the 26 February 2022, 4 days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I was pleased there were noContinue reading “BBCPO/Wigglesworth: Vaughan Williams. Bridgewater Hall, 26/2/22”

Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus,  Olivier Messiaen: Reinis Zariņš piano This was the second of two concerts unexpectedly heard when my Welsh holiday was cancelled. I have a recording of this work (indeed two of them!) and therefore I know it to some extent. However, I have never been to a live performance, and probably another won’tContinue reading “Messiaen / Zariņš : Wigmore Hall, 23/2/22”

Dmitry Shostakovich: Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti Op. 145; Viola Sonata Op. 147: Ignat Solzhenitsyn, piano; Simon Barrad, baritone; Timothy Ridout, viola Tuesday 22 February started with my assumption that I would be spending the next three days with an old friend of mine in Wales, half way up a valley without wifi, electricityContinue reading “Shostakovitch: Barrad/Solzhenitsyn/Ridout: Wigmore Hall, 22/2/22”

Martyn Brabbins, conductor; Jamie Manton, director; Tom Scutt, set & costumes;  Lucy Carter, lighting. Cast: Sally Matthews, Vixen; Pumeza Matshikiza, Fox; Lester Lynch, Forester; Madeleine Shaw, Forester’s Wife / Owl; Alan Oke, Schoolmaster / Mosquito; Clive Bayley, Priest / Badger; Ossian Huskinson, a Poacher; John Findon, Innkeeper / Cock; Gweneth Ann Rand, Innkeeper’s Wife / Hen; Claire BarnettContinue reading “The Cunning Little Vixen, Janacek. ENO 20/2/22 “

Stravinsky – Funeral Song; Shostakovich – Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings; Mahler – Symphony No.1. Conductor, Carlo Rizzi;  Sofya Gulyak, piano; Gareth Small, trumpet This was a very enjoyable concert, based around the early works of three great masters. I think I heard the Stravinsky a few years ago at the Proms – itContinue reading “Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Mahler: Halle, Rizzi – Bridgewater Hall. 13/2/22”