| Date and venue | Title |
|---|---|
| 8-May-2013 BBC Hoddinott Hall | Britten and Poulenc with Adrian Partington and the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales |
.jpg) On Wednesday evening the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, conducted by Adrian Partington, presented a programme of choral music by the two musical friends Poulenc and Britten. Interestingly, most of the works also originated from a narrow three-year period in the late 1930s (Poulenc was, at this stage, in his late 30s, Britten in his mid 20s), making the juxtaposition of the composers’ works all the more pertinent.
Read full review... | |
| 22-Dec-2012 Colston Hall | A Christmassy oratorio: Handel's Messiah at Colston Hall, Bristol |
| Many people have triggers to make them feel seasonal, and this evening’s concert was no doubt a source for many audience members. Festive cheer spread around Bristol’s Colston Hall for an evening of joyous music celebrating the Christmas story with Handel’s Messiah. We have to thank librettist Charles Jennens for giving Handel the inspiration to write such powerful and emotive music as this epic piece, written in just 24 days. Christmas in the classical music world would not be complete without the well-known Hallelujah Chorus or “For unto us a child is born”. Read full review... | |
| 13-Oct-2012 St John's Smith Square | Everyman's Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius at St John's Smith Square |
.jpg) Certain images of Edward Elgar appear to be too heavily ingrained in our national consciousness ever to be shaken off. He has now been entombed as an establishment figure, a privilege for which he has the Last Night of the Proms to thank. Even works such as the Enigma Variations and the Cello Concerto that are less obviously redolent of patriotic bombast can be heard as expressive vehicles for Edwardian imperialism.Read full review... | |
