Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sally Matthews, Blanche de la Force; Katarina Dalayman, Madame de Croissy, (Old Prioress); Golda Schultz, Madame Lidoine (New Prioress); Karen Cargill, Mother Marie of the Incarnation; Florie Valiquette, Sister Constance of St Denis; Fiona Kimm, Mother Jeanne of the Child Jesus; Paul Gay, Marquis de la Force; Valentin Thill, Chevalier de la Force; Vincent Ordonneau,Continue reading “Glyndebourne at the Proms – Poulenc, Dialogues of the Carmelites. RAH 7/8/23”

L. Boulanger, D’un matin de printemps; Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor; Walton, Symphony No. 1 in B flat minor. Alim Beisembayev, piano; Sinfonia of London, John Wilson conductor I don’t think – I need to check – that I’ve ever heard the Sinfonia of London live before. I was very struck byContinue reading “Rachmaninov/Walton – Sinfonia of London, Wilson: RAH Proms 6/8/23”

Jimmy López Bellido –  Perú negro; Rachmaninov – Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Walton, Belshazzar’s Feast. Yuja Wang, piano; Thomas Hampson,  baritone; BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Klaus Mäkelä conductor This was one of the first Proms to sell out  – the attraction being mainly Yuja Wang, and also some interest around KlausContinue reading “Bellido, Rachmaninov, Walton – BBC Symphony Orchestra, Mäkelä, Wang – RAH Proms 4/8/23”

City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra: Mahler Symphony no 5 in C minor Partly because of my volunteer role as a Welcomer at Sheffield Cathedral, partly because I am a trustee of an organisation connected to CSYO, and partly because it’s not a work I would associate necessarily with the skills and experience of a youthContinue reading “CSYO – Mahler – Sheffield Cathedral: 31/7/23”

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”