Category Archives: Uncategorized

London Philharmonic Orchestra; Edward Gardner conductor. Cast – Robert Murray, Mark; Rachel Nicholls, Jenifer; Ashley Riches, King Fisher; Jennifer France, Bella; Toby Spence, Jack; Claire Barnett-Jones, Sosostris; Susan Bickley, She-Ancient; Joshua Bloom, He-Ancient. London Philharmonic Choir, English National Opera Chorus I got to know this work quite well as a student and bought the vinyl setContinue reading “Tippett – The Midsummer Marriage, concert performance – Gardner, LPO. Tippett – The Midsummer Marriage, concert performance – Gardner, LPO. RFH 25/9/21”

Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; Ravel Piano Concerto in G; Thea Musgrave Song of the Enchanter; Sibelius Symphony No.2 – Sir Mark Elder conductor, Benjamin Grosvenor piano, Halle Orchestra. This was another great concert. It was a joy to hear an orchestra in the Bridgewater Hall so soon after being inContinue reading “Vaughan Williams / Ravel / Musgrave / Sibelius: Halle, Elder, Grosvenor – Bridgewater Hall, 23/9/21”

Bruckner Discarded Scherzo (1876) and Discarded Finale, ‘Volksfest’ (1878) from Symphony No 4, ed. Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs; Bruckner Symphony No 4, ‘Romantic’ (1878–81), ed. Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs*: Sir Simon Rattle conductor, London Symphony Orchestra An absorbing evening. The Barbican sounds very boxy and confined after the spaces of the Albert Hall for which this music is ideallyContinue reading “Bruckner: LSO, Rattle; Barbican 19/9/21”

Benjamin Nabarro violin, Gemma Rosefield cello, Tim Horton piano: Haydn Piano Trio in C Hob XV:21 and Dvořák Piano Trio in F minor Op.65. Neither of these pieces were known to me. The Haydn is a product of his second visit to London, and sounded poised and confident, like the London symphonies. The playing seemedContinue reading “Ensemble 360: Haydn/Dvorak; Upper Chapel, Sheffield, 17/9/21”

Cast: Rigoletto: Carlos Álvarez; Duke of Mantua: Liparit Avetisyan; Gilda: Lisette Oropesa; Sparafucile: Brindley Sherratt; Maddalena: Ramona Zaharia; Monterone: Eric Greene. Conductor Antonio Pappano; new production directed by Oliver Mears I have been, over the years, rather snooty about Verdi’s early and middle period works. I love Otello and Falstaff and have vivid memories ofContinue reading “Verdi – Rigoletto: Dress Rehearsal, ROHCG 10/9/21”

Louise Alder soprano, Iestyn Davies counter-tenor, Stuart Jackson Evangelist, Hugo Hymas tenor, Roderick Williams baritone, Matthew Rose Christ: Choristers of St Paul’s Cathedral Choir/Arcangelo Chorus & Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen harpsichord/director It is years and years since I heard the St Matthew Passion live. In fact I am embarrassed to say that I suspect the lastContinue reading “Bach St Matthew Passion: Arcangelo Chorus and Orchestra/Cohen; BBC Proms, RAH 9/9/21”

Shostakovich: Festive Overture, Op 96 Mahler: Symphony No 5 in C sharp minor Proms Festival Orchestra Mark Wigglesworth, conductor This was billed as a special concert and so it was. Movingly, a scratch orchestra formed of freelancers who had not been able to work or paid to be musicians over the pandemic had been broughtContinue reading “Mahler / Proms Festival Orchestra – Wigglesworth: BBC Proms RAH, 8/9/21”

The musicians were Benjamin Nabarro violin, Claudia Ajmone-Marsan violin, Rachel Roberts viola, Gemma Rosefield cello I had seen and enjoyed Ensemble 360 performing op131 late in October last year, before lockdowns 2 and 3. I’m not sure why they were performing it again so soon afterwards but it is a wonderful work and I’m certainlyContinue reading “Ensemble 360 – Beethoven String Quartets – Op.18 No.6, Op 131: Upper Chapel Sheffield, 3/9/21”

Tristan: Simon O’Neill; Isolde: Miina-Liisa Värelä; Brangäne: Karen Cargill; Kurwenal: Shen Yang; King Mark: John Relyea; Melot: Neal Cooper; Shepherd/Young Sailor: Stuart Jackson; London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Robin Ticciati What a work this is…I feel incredibly privileged to have seen in just over a month two Wagner operas in these very difficult times. IContinue reading “Glyndebourne Festival Opera production of Tristan and Isolde: BBC Proms, RAH 31/8/21”

This production received a fairly savage review from ArtsDesk. Words like  ‘chaotic’ and ‘misjudged’ were used. I’ve just made up my own mind based on what I saw and heard, and what I felt, as a result, is that the review was unfair. Also, this whole performance and the organisation behind it is about supportingContinue reading “Hansel and Gretel, Humperdinck: British Youth Opera, Opera Holland Park, 15/8/21”