Tarmo Peltokoski conductor; Silja Aalto soprano; Huw Montague Rendall baritone; Hallé Choir Matthew Hamilton, choral director, Hallé Youth Choir Stuart Overington, director. Mahler, Rückert-Lieder; Vaughan Williams Symphony No.1, ‘A Sea Symphony’ This was a somewhat odd piece of programming on the face of it – though obviously the Rückert-Lieder are broadly contemporary with the SeaContinue reading “Vaughan Williams, Halle Orchestra, Bridgewater Hall 16/4/26”
Tag Archives: reviews
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”
R.Strauss, Die Liebe der Danae, Bayern Staatsoper, Munich 22/7/25
Conductor, Sebastian Weigle; Director, Claus Guth; Designer, Michael Levine; Costumes, Ursula Kudrna; Lighting, Alessandro Carletti; Jupiter, Christopher Maltman; Mercury, Ya-Chung Huang; Pollux, Vincent Wolfsteiner; Danae, Malin Byström; Xanthe, Erika Baikoff; Midas, Andreas Schager; Four Kings, Martin Snell, Bálint Szabó, Paul Kaufmann, Kevin Conners; Semele, Sarah Dufresne; Europe, Evgeniya Sotnikova; Alkmene, Emily Sierra; Leda, Avery Amereau IContinue reading “R.Strauss, Die Liebe der Danae, Bayern Staatsoper, Munich 22/7/25”
Song Recital, Wigmore Hall 20/6/25 7pm
Benjamin Appl baritone; Simon Lepper piano. Songs by Schubert, Kurtag, Brahms, Liszt and Eisler This was a recital I was looking forward to as a challenge – to explore works new to me. Appl, a much-praised young German singer, was the last student Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau took on, and so Appl has set up a European tourContinue reading “Song Recital, Wigmore Hall 20/6/25 7pm”
Ravel / Farrenc/ Durufle/ Schumann.: Ensemble 360, Crucible, Sheffield,19/5/25
Ravel (arr. Farrington) Mother Goose Suite ; Farrenc Sextet; DURUFLÉ Prélude, récitatif et variations; Schumann Piano Quintet in E flat Op.44 This was a varied and interesting programme, with the best definitely last…..The Ravel piece I know from its full chamber orchestra version – here it had one each of strings, woodwind, horn and percussion,Continue reading “Ravel / Farrenc/ Durufle/ Schumann.: Ensemble 360, Crucible, Sheffield,19/5/25”
Wagner, Die Walkure. ROHCG 7/5/25,
Antonio Pappano, conductor; Wotan, Christopher Maltman; Brünnhilde, Elisabet Strid; Sieglinde, Natalya Romaniw; Siegmund, Stanislas de Barbeyrac; Hunding, Soloman Howard; Fricka, Marina Prudenskaya; Helmwige, Maida Hundeling; Ortlinde, Katie Lowe; Gerhilde, Lee Bisset; Waltraute, Claire Barnett-Jones; Siegrune, Catherine Carby; Rossweisse, Alison Kettlewell; Grimgerde, Monika-Evelin Liiv; Schwertleite, Rhonda Browne. Director, Barrie Kosky; set designer, Rufus Didwiszus; costume designer,Continue reading “Wagner, Die Walkure. ROHCG 7/5/25,”
Britten, Owen Wingrave. RNCM, Manchester 1/4/25
Rory Macdonald, conductor; Orpha Phelan director I am going to two operas I’ve never seen live before this week- indeed I’ve heard none of their music before, either… Owen Wingrave of course was conceived as a TV opera, broadcast in 1971, Indifferently received and not very much staged since the 70s, though there have beenContinue reading “Britten, Owen Wingrave. RNCM, Manchester 1/4/25”
Turnage: Festen, ROHCG, 24/2/25
Director, Richard Jones; Set designer, Miriam Buether; Costume designer, Nicky Gillibrand; Lighting designer, Lucy Carter; Edward Gardner, conductor. Cast – Christian, Allan Clayton; Michael, Stéphane Degout; Helge, Gerald Finley; Else, Rosie Aldridge; Helena, Natalya Romaniw; Helmut. Thomas Oliemans; Grandma, Susan Bickley; Mette, Philippa Boyle; Gbatokai, Peter Brathwaite; Linda, Marta Fontanals-Simmons; Chef, Aled Hall; Lars, JulianContinue reading “Turnage: Festen, ROHCG, 24/2/25”
Janacek, Jenufa: ROHCG, 23/1/25
Conductor, Jakub Hrůša; Jenůfa, Corinne Winters; Kostelničke a Buryjovka, Karita Mattila; Števa Buryja, Thomas Atkins; Laca Klemeň, Nicky Spence; Grandmother Buryjovka, Hanna Schwarz; Foreman, James Cleverton; Mayor, Jonathan Lemalu; Mayor’s Wife, Marie McLaughlin; Karolka, Valentina Puskás; Jana, Isabela DíazThis is the 4th live performance I have heard of Jenufa in the last 4 years, andContinue reading “Janacek, Jenufa: ROHCG, 23/1/25”
Mahler 2, Halle, Wong: Bridgewater Hall, 16/1/25
Kahchun Wong conductor, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha soprano, Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano, Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Choir: Mahler Symphony No.2, ‘Resurrection’ I first heard Mahler 2 live in 1968, with Haitink, and have been to many fine performances since – it’s a work that seems to bring out the best in performers and, really, I can sayContinue reading “Mahler 2, Halle, Wong: Bridgewater Hall, 16/1/25”
John's musical journey 