Category Archives: Uncategorized

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”

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”