Category: London
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The Cardinal’s Musick at Wigmore Hall review ****
The Cardinal’s Musick, Andrew Carwood (director) Wigmore Hall, 4th December 2017 Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594) – Missa Hodie Christus natus est Anon – Gaudete, Hail Mary full of grace, Quem Pastores, Salutation Carol Jacob Handl (1550-1591) – Mirabile mysterium Richard Pygott (c.1485-1549) – Quid petis O fili Tomás Luis…
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Marnie at English National Opera review *****
Marnie English National Opera, The Coliseum, 3rd December 2017 I really don’t understand why the serious broadsheet reaction to Nico Muhly’s new opera has been so lukewarm. They generally seem to have admired the score, commended the ENO Orchestra’s playing under new Director Martyn Brabbins, praised many of the performers…
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The Red Lion at Trafalgar Studios review ****
The Red Lion Trafalgar Studios 2, 1st December 2017 Patrick Marber is a talented chap. Directing, adapting, writing screenplays, comedy material. Yet he is at his best when he writes original plays, or maybe even, as in this case, where he remakes his own texts. (Having said that his screenplay…
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The Retreat at the Park Theatre review ***
The Retreat Park Theatre, 30th November 2017 So here is another offering from the Park which, whilst offering a very entertaining night out, didn’t quite deliver a whole commensurate with the sum of its parts. And very fine parts they were too. Sam Bain, with writing partner Jesse Armstrong, is…
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Impressionists in London at Tate Britain review ***
The EY Exhibition: Impressionists in London: French Artists in Exile 1870-1914 Tate Modern, 30th November 2017 Would I pay £17.70, the full adult price to see this. Hmm. Maybe. Different story if you are a member, (as you should be if you can afford it), but, if not, I’d say…
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Yellowman at the Young Vic review ****
Yellowman Young Vic Theatre, 29th November 2017 From what I can see American playwrights don’t like to arse about too much with the play, either in terms of dramatic form or the subject, the family history in one form or another. Why not, given the history of American gifts to…
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Miss Julie at the Jermyn Street Theatre review ***
Miss Julie Jermyn Street Theatre, 27th November 2017 Grinding my way through the classics of naturalistic drama. Actually not grinding, that makes it sound like too much of a slog, but I can’t pretend it is all unalloyed joy. Turns out that Chekhov is likely the man for me and…
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Poison at the Orange Tree theatre review ****
Poison Orange Tree Theatre, 28th November 2017 Sometimes all you want from a play is for it to do exactly what it says on the packet. No sub-plots, symbolism, pointless characters, formal invention, stilted message. Just a powerful and involving story, well told. This is exactly what renowned Dutch playwright,…
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Natural Selection exhibition at the Former Newington Library review *****
Andy Holden and Peter Holden: Natural Selection Artangel at the Former Newington Library, 24th November 2017 This might just be the best exhibition I have seen this year. The Former Newington Library was new to me I confess, and reeks of institutional instruction, which matched the tone of this “installation”…
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Monochrome: Painting in Black and White exhibition at the National Gallery review ****
Monochrome: Painting in Black and White National Gallery, 22nd November 2017 For as long as there has been Western art there has been black and white painting. Used in preparation for works in colour, to heighten the impact of light on a subject, to “imitate” other art forms such as…
At Home He Feels Like A Tourist 