A game changer: as RPS Conductors programme enters a new phase, I chat to founder Alice Farnham & an early participant, Charlotte Corderoy
Updated: 2025-07-05 08:37:00
: : , , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Saturday , 5 July 2025 A game changer : as RPS Conductors programme enters a new phase , I chat to founder Alice Farnham an early participant , Charlotte Corderoy Labels : interview RPS Alice Farnham with members of the Royal Northern Sinfonia and members of the RPS Women Conductors programme at the Glasshouse including Charlotte Corderoy In 2014, conductor Alice Farnham formed the Women Conductors programme , initially at Morley College she joined forces with the Royal Philharmonic Society RPS to create RPS Women Conductors in 2016, then in 2022, in partnership with the Royal Northern Sinfonia RNS a new high-level course was established in Gateshead at The
: , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Friday , 4 July 2025 New kid on the block , New London Harmonia brings two premiered by Welsh composer Charlie Barber to its final concert of the season Labels : preview Charlie Barber at the premiere of his The Fall of the House of Usher with the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales in 2012 Welsh composer Charlie Barber who celebrated his 75th birthday last year see Ty Cerdd's birthday profile is something of a musical chameleon , working in film , dance , the stage and concert platform . Recent work has included the 2013 music-theatre piece Michelangelo Drawing Blood whilst his film projects include music for Jean Cocteau’s Blood of a Poet 2006 a surrealist%20Britten%20Pears%20Arts%20(1%20of%2014).jpg)
: , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Thursday , 3 July 2025 A quartet of concerts ended a marvellous , fulfilling and enjoyable Aldeburgh Festival Labels : Aldeburgh by Tony Cooper concert review Daniel Kidane : Aloud Nathan Amaral , Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra , Kirill Karabits Aldeburgh Festival Photo : Britten Pears Arts Thea Musgrave : Rorate coeli Britten : A.M.D.G . Palestrina : Rorate coeli Daniel Kidane : The Song Thrush and the Mountain Ash Schoenberg : Friede auf Erden Poulenc : Figure humaine BBC Singers , Owain Park Snape Maltings Britten : Winter Words Imogen Holst : Weathers Little think’st at thou , poore flower Four Songs Daniel Kidane : Songs of Illumination Britten .jpg)
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Wednesday , 2 July 2025 A vivid theatricality that a more conventional treatment might have missed : Bintou Dembélé Leonardo García-Alarcón collaborate on a remarkable reinvention of Rameau's Les Indes Galantes Labels : Grange Festival opera review Rameau : Les Indes Galantes Andreas Wolf , Cappella Mediterranea , Chœur de chambre de Namur , Structure Rualité , Leonardo García-Alarcón The Grange Festival Photo : Richard Hubert Smith Rameau : Les Indes Galantes Laurène Paternò , Ana Quintans , Alasdair Kent , Andreas Wolf , Cappella Mediterranea , Chœur de chambre de Namur , Structure Rualité , director : Bintou Dembélé , Leonardo García-Alarcón The Grange
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 1 July 2025 Challenging conventional ideas of vocal performance : Contemporary Vocal Sünds from Eleanor Westbrook Oskar McCarthy Labels : preview Two contemporary singers are joining forces to present a recital of experimental vocal music . Eleanor Westbrook and Oskar McCarthy , along with pianist Ben Smith are presenting Contemporary Vocal Sünds at The Uplands , St Leonards-on-Sea 20 July and Lauderdale House , Highgate 22 July with playful and radical approach to voice in works from the 20th and 21st century , challenging conventional ideas of vocal . performance The recital features composers such as John Cage , Iannis Xenakis and Georges Aperghis 
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 1 July 2025 Robert Clara : Stephan Loges Jocelyn Freeman at SongEasel Labels : concert review Stephan Loges at a SongEasel recital on 22 June 2025 Photo : Kate Kantur Robert Clara : songs by Clara Schumann Robert Schumann including Liederkreis , Op . 39 Stephan Loges , Jocelyn Freeman SongEasel at St Matthew's Church Reviewed 27 June 2025 An evening of intimate lieder in Elephant Castle , intertwining songs by Robert Clara Schumann including his complete Eichendorff Liederkreis For its latest season , Jocelyn Freeman s SongEasel has been filling South East London with song , bringing distinguished artists such as Helen Charlston , Sholto Kynoch ,
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Monday , 30 June 2025 450 children celebrate take part in a wide variety of music : Richard Shephard Music Foundation's annual Make Music Day in York Labels : music education music news York Richard Shephard Music Foundation's annual Make Music Day in York Over 450 school children gathered last week 25 June at York St John University for a day of inspiring music as the Richard Shephard Music Foundation hosted its annual Make Music Day The event brought together over 450 primary school children from across the region to celebrate and take part in a wide variety of . music There were hands-on workshops ranging from Beatboxing to Trinidadian Percussion , nbsp%20Anthony%20Robling.jpg)
: , , : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Monday , 30 June 2025 New concertos , more Mozart Made in Manchester , expanding Music in Mind : Manchester Camerata's new season Labels : Manchester preview Gábor Takács-Nagy conducts Manchester Camerata Photo : Anthony Robling Music director Gábor Takács-Nagy conducts Mozart’s Violin Concerto No . 3 with Caroline Pether plus music by Fanny Mendelssohn and Beethoven , and returns with Mozart , Made in Manchester with soprano Ying Fang in arias by . Mozart Daniel Pioro , one of Manchester Camerata’s artistic partners , will premiere a new violin concerto by Nick Martin . Inspired by the sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth , the piece will receive premier
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Saturday , 28 June 2025 A different focus : Timothy Ridout in Mozart Hummel with Academy of St Martin in the Fields plus Rossini a Weber symphony Labels : ASMF concert review Hummel , portrait by Joseph Willibrord Mähler , c . 1814 Rossini : String Sonata No . 1 Mozart : Sinfonia Concertante in E flat Hummel : Potpourri Op . 94 Weber : Symphony No . 1 Timothy Ridout , Tomo Keller , Academy of St Martin in the Fields Church of St Martin in the Fields Reviewed 26 June 2026 Mozart's violin and viola concertante work in context of music written within the following 40 years including Hummel's wonderfully engaging concertante work for viola Johann Nepomuk Hummel was
: : , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Saturday , 28 June 2025 From Handel to Verdi beyond : I chat to soprano Soraya Mafi about singing in Handel's Saul at Glyndebourne , expanding into bel canto Bernstein Labels : Glyndebourne interview Handel : Saul Soraya Mafi Glyndebourne Opera Photo : Glyndebourne ASH Soprano Soraya Mafi is currently singing the role of Michal in Handel's Saul at Glyndebourne in the 2025 revival of the 2015 production by Barrie Kosky which can rightly be called iconic see my review Soraya returns to Handel next year when she makes her debut at the Komische Oper Berlin in Belshazzar Before then she will be performing the role of Cunegonde in Bernstein's Candide with Welsh
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Friday , 27 June 2025 An alternative way people can encounter classical music : Baldur Brönnimann Felix Heri introduce Between Mountains Festival Labels : Guest Posting interview preview This summer , the Between Mountains Festival makes its debut on 19 July at Holdenweid in Hölstein , Switzerland . More than just another music festival , Between Mountains seeks to redefine how classical music is presented and experienced by bringing it into conversation with electronic , ambient , and experimental genres . Set against the unique backdrop of a former psychiatric facility turned cultural centre at the foothills of the Jura Mountains , the festival appeals to%20Britten%20Pears%20Arts%20(17).jpg)
: . Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Thursday , 26 June 2025 The BBC Symphony Orchestra’s visit to this year’s Aldeburgh Festival offered a couple of favourable concerts that stamped the quality and commitment of its fine bunch of players . Labels : Aldeburgh by Tony Cooper concert review Britten : Our Hunting Fathers Allan Clayton , BBC Symphony Orchestra , Sakari Oramo Snape Maltings , Aldeburgh Festival Photo : Britten Pears Arts Daniel Kidane : , Awake Helen Grime : Violin , Concerto Strauss : Tod und Verklärung Vier letzel Lieder Anu Komsi , Leila Josefowicz , BBC Symphony Orchestra , cond . Sakari Oramo Snape Maltings Concert . Hall Helen Grime : Night , Songs Britten : Our Hunting , Fathers%20in%20Trial%20by%20Jury.%20Credit%20Mihaela%20Bodlovic..jpg)
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Wednesday , 25 June 2025 Brilliant reinvention razor sharp take-down : Scottish Opera's double-bill pairs Gilbert Sullivan with Toby Hession's brand new comedy at Opera Holland Park Labels : Opera Holland Park opera review Scottish Opera Gilbert Sullivan : Trial by Jury Jamie MacDougall Scottish Opera Photo : Mihaela Bodlovic Gilbert Sullivan : Trial by Jury Toby Hession Emma Jenkins : A Matter of Misconduct Richard Suart , Jamie MacDougall , Kira Kaplan , Chloe Harris Ross Cumming , Edward Jowle , directors : John Savournin Laura Attridge , Scottish Opera , conductor : Toby Hession Opera Holland Park Reviewed 24 June 2025 A brilliant reinvention of Gilbert
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 24 June 2025 A new work for piano duet : The Clements Prize for Composers 2025 Labels : Conway Hall music news Photo from Art UK Conway Hall Sunday Concerts is inviting young composers to submit a work for piano duet to The Clements Prize 2025. Up to eight submissions will be selected to be performed by Clíodna Shanahan and Simon Callaghan at the final round in Conway Hall’s Main Hall on 2 November 2025. A workshop involving all the final round composers and the performers will take place at 2pm on the same date . nbsp The winner of the first prize will be awarded 1,500. Alfred J . Clements 1858-1938 was the organiser and secretary of the South Place%20Britten%20Pears%20Arts%20(1).jpg)
: . Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 24 June 2025 A trio of concerts at this year’s Aldeburgh Festival highlights the diversity of music to be found on the Suffolk coast . Labels : Aldeburgh by Tony Cooper concert review Snape Maltings Edward Gardner Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra Aldeburgh Festival Photo : Britten Pears Arts Daniel Kidane : Sirens Mark-Anthony Turnage : Refugee Nielsen : Symphony No.4 Allan Clayton , Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra , cond . Edward Gardner Snape Maltings Concert Hall , Suffolk Alex Tay , Mingdu Li , Liucilė Vilimaitė , Hy-Khang Dang , Sam Rudd-Jones , Jasper Eaglesfield , Helen Grime , Mark-Anthony Turnage , Colin Matthews , Goehr ,
: Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 24 June 2025 That was quite a party Paul Curran's production of Die Fledermaus at The Grange Festival makes for a terrific evening in the theatre thanks to a brilliant cast Labels : Grange Festival opera review Johann Strauss : Die Fledermaus The Grange Festival Photo : Richard Hubert Smith Johann Strauss : nbsp Die Fledermaus Sylvia Schwartz , Andrew Hamilton , Ben McAteer , Ellie Laugharne , Claudia Huckle , Trystan Llŷr Griffiths , Darren Jeffery , Myra DuBois , director : Paul Curran , Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra , conductor : Paul Daniel The Grange Festival Reviewed : 22 June 2025 With cross-dressing chorus , all-singing , all-dancing soloists
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Monday , 23 June 2025 Modern resonances musical style : Richard Farnes conducts Verdi's La traviata at the Grange Festival with Samantha Clarke Nico Darmanin Labels : Grange Festival Verdi : La Traviata Samantha Clarke The Grange Festival Photo : Richard Hubert Smith Verdi : La traviata Samantha Clarke , Nico Darmanin , Dario Solari , Annie Reilly , director : Maxine Braham , Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra , conductor : Richard Farnes The Grange Festival Reviewed 21 June 2025 An impressively fully realised account of the title role from Samantha Clarke in a period production that pulled no punches , with a strongly balanced cast and terrific Bournemouth
: , : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Saturday , 21 June 2025 Maiden , Mother and Crone : mezzo-soprano Rowan Hellier talks about her interdisciplinary project integrating music movement exploring the fascinating figure of Baba Yaga Labels : interview Oxford Lieder Festival Baba Yaga workshop Ana Dordevic , Rowan Hellier , Carola Schwab Photo : Pascal Buenning Deutsche Oper Rowan Hellier is a mezzo-soprano who , along with her operatic career , is known for creating projects which blur the boundaries of genre , discipline and aesthetic , often centring on women’s stories and her concepts have featured at major venues such as Wigmore Hall At the Oxford International Song Festival in October ,%20in%20The%20Merry%20Widow.%20Credit%20Mihaela%20Bodlovic.%20(2).jpg)
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Friday , 20 June 2025 The Merry Widow meets the Godfather : Scottish Opera brings John Savournin's new production of Lehár's operetta to Opera Holland Park Labels : Opera Holland Park opera review Scottish Opera Lehár The Merry Widow Alex Otterburn , Henry Waddington Scottish Opera Photo : Mihaela Bodlovic Lehár : The Merry Widow Paula Sides , Alex Otterburn , Rhian Lois , William Morgan , Henry Waddington , director : John Savournin , Scottish Opera , conductor : Stuart Stratford Opera Holland Park Reviewed 19 June 2025 Scottish Opera brings its New York Mafia Merry Widow t o Opera Holland Park in a production where the two principals shine despite
: , : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Thursday , 19 June 2025 Enjoyment , exploration sheer virtuosic fun : Sisters from Karine Deshayes Delphine Haidan Sisters music by Rossini , Viardot , Gluck Berlioz , Berlioz , Bertin , Bellini , Grandval , Saint-Saens Karine Deshayes , Delphine Haidan , Orchestre national Avignon-Provence , conductor Débora Waldman NoMadMusic Reviewed 13 June 2025 Part celebration , part luxuriant delight : Malibran and Viardot celebrated in a programme that was clearly a joy for both soloists and performers , enjoyment , exploration and sheer virtuosic fun From around 1825 to 1863 the sisters Maria Malibran 1808-1836 and Pauline Viardot 1821-1910 lit up the operatic stage 
: Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Thursday , 19 June 2025 Early Music Day in Oxford Labels : preview The Continuo Foundation is joining forces with Oxford Festival of the Arts to present an Early Music Day on Saturday 12 July 2025 at Magdalen College . nbsp The day will consist of two afternoon concerts by Continuo grantee ensembles , the Linarol Consort and the Bellot Ensemble , plus a talk by Nicholas Kenyon on the early music . revival The Linarol Consort is joined by countertenor William Purefoy for a programme celebrating the life and times of Oxford-born Orlando Gibbons , exploring a range of his works , alongside those of his contemporaries , John Bull , William Byrd and Thomas Weelkes ..jpg)
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Wednesday , 18 June 2025 Opera in the heart of Clapham : St Paul's Opera's Summer Opera Festival Labels : preview Rehearsal images from St Paul's Opera's forthcoming production of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore My local opera company , St Paul's Opera is presenting its annual Summer operatic staging at St Paul's Church , Clapham next month 3 to 5 July 2025 with Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore . The director is Eloise Lally who directed English Touring Opera's production of Bellini's The Capulets The Montagues which we caught in Hackney earlier this year see my review The music director is Adrian Salinero , a London-based Basque Spanish pianist , repetiteur and vocal
: , : , , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 17 June 2025 Lieder , songs and sonnets : David Butt Philip in Vaughan Williams , Alma Mahler , Wagner Britten at Wigmore Hall Labels : concert review Wigmore Hall David Butt Philip Photo : Andrew Staples Ralph Vaughan Williams , Alma Mahler , Wagner , Britten : David Butt Philip , James Baillieu Wigmore Hall Reviewed 15 June 2025 In a rare song recital , the dramatic tenor explores a remarkably diverse yet imaginative programme that moved away from his opera repertory Thanks to the vagaries of programming and that fact the much of his chosen operatic repertoire of Wagner and Richard Strauss is relatively rare on these shores at the moment ,