Bach and  American Minimalism: Shani Diluka, Sheffield Crucible 31/10/25  

JS BACH (arr. Alexander Siloti) Prelude in E minor BWV855; GLASS Etude 2; JS BACH Prelude in C BWV846; CPE BACH Solfeggietto H220 Wq 117; GLASS Etude 9; JS BACH Prelude in F minor BWV857 ; GLASS Mad Rush; JS BACH (arr. Alfred Cortot) Arioso from Concerto No.5 in F minor BWV1056 ; MOONDOG CanonContinue reading “Bach and  American Minimalism: Shani Diluka, Sheffield Crucible 31/10/25  “

John Adams – Bridgewater Hall, Halle, Adams – 30/10/25

John Adams conductor; Mary Bevan soprano; Hallé Choir (Matthew Hamilton, choral director). . John Adams: Slonimsky’s Earbox; Debussy/John Adams Le Livre de Baudelaire; John Adams ‘This is prophetic!’ (Pat’s Aria from Nixon in China); Harmonium  I have enjoyed listening to John Adams’ music for many years, and have several recordings of his music, but allContinue reading “John Adams – Bridgewater Hall, Halle, Adams – 30/10/25”

Bach / Ensemble 360: Upper Chapel, Sheffield – 25/10/25 2pm

Bach:  Sonata No.3 in C; Partita No.3 in E; Benjamin Nabarro, violin I have been reading a fascinating book by Kate Kennedy called ‘Cello’, about the passion and the closeness of the relationship between instrument and player, as exemplified by four historical/ contemporary figures. Amongst many other topics, she muses on whether, in the sameContinue reading “Bach / Ensemble 360: Upper Chapel, Sheffield – 25/10/25 2pm”

Takacs Quartet, Timothy Ridout, Mozart Quintets – Wigmore Hall – 20/10/25

Mozart, String Quintet in C K515; String Quintet in G minor K516 This was a superb concert. I have listened to these two works a number of times but have never heard them live and therefore haven’t ever, really, given them the full, deep concentration I find I can only give at a live concert.Continue reading “Takacs Quartet, Timothy Ridout, Mozart Quintets – Wigmore Hall – 20/10/25”

Verdi, The Sicilian Vespers, ROHCG, 26/925

Director, Stefan Herheim; Set designer, Philipp Fürhofer; Costume designer, Gesine Völlm; Lighting designer, Anders Poll; Choreographer, André de Jong. Conductor, Speranza Scappucci; Hélène, Joyce El-Khoury; Henri, Vladymyr Dytiuk ; Jean Procida, Ildebrando D’Arcangelo; Guy de Montfort, Quinn Kelsey; Robert, Vartan Gabrielian; Thibault, Neal Cooper; Le Sire de Béthune, Blaise Malaba; Le Comte de Vaudemont, ThomasContinue reading “Verdi, The Sicilian Vespers, ROHCG, 26/925”

Halle/Wong. Bridgewater Hall, 25/9/25

Kahchun Wong conductor, Truls Mørk cello. Shostakovich, Festive Overture; Elgar, Cello Concerto; Rachmaninov Symphony No.2 This was the Halle’s opening concert of the 25/26 season. The Halle, much more obviously than the BBC Phil in Manchester, has to balance innovation in concerts against the need to balance the books, and this was unashamedly a popularContinue reading “Halle/Wong. Bridgewater Hall, 25/9/25”

Elisabeth Leonskaja, Wigmore Hall, 19/9/25

Elisabeth Leonskaja, piano: Programme – Mozart, Fantasia in C minor K475; Shostakovich, Piano Sonata No. 2 in B minor Op. 61; Schubert, 3 Klavierstücke D946; Fantasy in C D760 ‘Wanderer’ After my three Proms in the Arena, my final Prom of the 25/26 season was going to be Bruckner 9 with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,Continue reading “Elisabeth Leonskaja, Wigmore Hall, 19/9/25”

Bliss/Oramo/BBCSO – RAH, BBC Proms 7/9/25

Gipps Death on the Pale Horse; Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor; Bliss The Beatitudes. Elizabeth Watts soprano, Laurence Kilsby tenor, Lukas Sternath piano, BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo conductor The programming intent with this concert was fairly obvious. Put down an evergreen favourite to draw the crowds with anContinue reading “Bliss/Oramo/BBCSO – RAH, BBC Proms 7/9/25”

Golda Schultz sings Gershwin and Bernstein: RAH , BBC Proms 6/9/25

Schreker Chamber Symphony; Stravinsky The Firebird – suite; and songs/arias from: Bernstein West Side Story, Gershwin Porgy and Bess, Korngold Die tote Stadt, Stravinsky The Rake’s Progress, Weill Lost in the Stars. Golda Schultz soprano, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Robin Ticciati conductor The next three Proms I’m going to are all ones where I’m standingContinue reading “Golda Schultz sings Gershwin and Bernstein: RAH , BBC Proms 6/9/25”

Mendelssohn on Mull Festival 2025

I recently spent several days visiting the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival, which is an annual residency where the Artistic Directors – this year the Maxwell Quartet –  ‘invite eight young artists on the brink of a professional career for an immersive week of rehearsals and performances on the island of Mull’, to quote the publicityContinue reading “Mendelssohn on Mull Festival 2025”