Tag: Britten Sinfonia
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The Intelligence Park at the Linbury Theatre review ***
The Intelligence Park Linbury Theatre Royal Opera House, 2nd October 2019 I have no-one else to blame for this. Having now heard a smattering of his larger scale works thanks in large part to Thomas Ades’s advocacy in his Beethoven cycle with the Britten Sinfonia, having invested in a CD…
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Britten Sinfonia Beethoven cycle at the Barbican Hall review *****
Britten Sinfonia, Thomas Ades (conductor), Barbican Hall, 21st and 26th May 2019 Lawrence Power (viola) Eamonn Dougan (director) Jennifer France (soprano) Christianne Stotjin (alto) Ed Lyon (tenor) Matthew Rose (bass) Britten Sinfonia Voices Choir of Royal Holloway Beethoven – Symphony No 7 in A majpor, Op 92 Gerald Barry –…
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My top ten concerts and opera of 2018
Just a list so I don’t forget. 1. A Midsummer Night’s Dream – English National Opera – 4th March Not quite a war-horse of a production but Robert Carsen’s version of Britten’s Shakespearean opera looks, sounds and, well, is just wonderful. 2. Ligeti in Wonderland – South Bank – 11th,…
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Handel’s Messiah at the Barbican review ****
Britten Sinfonia, Britten Sinfonia Voices Handel’s Messiah, Barbican Hall, 19th December 2018 Jacqueline Shave (violin/director), Sophie Bevan (soprano), Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Allen Clayton (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone) Christmas on the way. Full house at the Barbican. MSBD as wingman. Messiah. A quartet of outstanding soloists. The Britten Sinfonia Voices. The…
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Beethoven symphony cycle from Britten Sinfonia and Thomas Ades at the Barbican review *****
Britten Sinfonia, Thomas Ades (conductor), Nicholas Hodges (piano), Joshua Bloom (bass) Barbican Hall, 22nd and 24th May 2018 Beethoven – Symphony No 4 in B flat major Op 60 Gerard Barry – Piano Concerto Beethoven – Symphony No 5 in C minor Op 67 Gerard Barry – The Conquest of…
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Coraline at the Barbican Theatre review ****
Coraline Barbican Theatre, 7th April 2018 Was I the only person in the audience who knew nothing about Neil Gaiman’s 2003 cult children’s fantasy novella from whence came Mark-Anthony Turnage’s opera Coraline? It certainly felt like it. To be fair the provenance had dawned on me some time before the…
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My favourite classical concerts of 2017
Right I know it is a bit late in the day but I wanted to make a list of the concerts I enjoyed most from last year. So everything that got a 5* review based on my entirely subjective criteria is ordered below. Top is Sir Simon and the LSO…
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Britten Sinfonia at Wigmore Hall review *****
Britten Sinfonia Wigmore Hall, 24th January 2018 Heinrich Biber – Mystery Sonata No 1 “The Annunciation” Philip Glass – Orbit Leo Chadburn – Five Loops for the Bathyscaphe Arvo Part – Spiegel am Spiegel WA Mozart – Piano Trio No 3 K502 There is something of the spirit of punk…
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Britten Sinfonia at Milton Court review *****
Britten Sinfonia, Helen Grime This is Rattle, Milton Court Hall, 20th September 2017 Purcell – Fantasia Upon One Note Oliver Knussen, George Benjamin, Colin Matthews – A Purcell Garland Helen Grime – Into the Faded Air Oliver Knussen – Cantata Helen Grime – A Cold Spring Thomas Ades – Court…
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Britten Sinfonia and Thomas Ades at the Barbican Hall *****
Britten Sinfonia, Thomas Ades Barbican Hall, 6th June 2017 Gerard Barry – Chevaux-de-frise Beethoven – Symphony No 3 in E Flat Major. Op 55 “Eroica” That Beethoven eh. Too busy being a genius to get a decent haircut. Another reason why he is my sort of bloke. I have raved…
At Home He Feels Like A Tourist 