2024 in record reviews: white-hot prophets, sensitive souls, a German in Venice, Holst's organ and the 20th century brass band
Updated: 2024-12-31 10:42:00
: : , , , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 31 December 2024 2024 in record reviews : white-hot prophets , sensitive souls , a German in Venice , Holst's organ and the 20th century brass band Labels : cd review Early and late feature heavily in this year's selection , but in the middle a pair of individual performances stand out . The white-hot dramatic impetus of John Osborn's account of the title role in Meyerbeer's Le prophète in a performance from Mark Elder and the LSO that really capture's the work's drama , and a rediscovery of the original orchestral sound of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius from Gabrieli and Paul McCreesh , with a sensitive account of the title role from Nicky .
: : , , , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Monday , 30 December 2024 2024 : A year in concert reviews , astonishing youth , late-romantic rarities , riveting symphonic theatre Labels : concert review Janine Jansen , Martha Argerich , Mischa Maisky Le Piano Symphonique , Lucerne Photo : Philipp Schmidli , Luzerner Sinfonieorchester Baroque music featured highly this year , Lawrence Cummings and the AAM used just eight singers for their moving version of Bach's St Matthew Passion and equally life-enhancing was Bach's Brandenburg Concertos from the OAE . We heard Handel's original version of Esther from Solomon's Knot , who also popped up in Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 one of a pair of contrasting
: : , , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Sunday , 29 December 2024 2024 : A year in opera reviews , strong individual performances , reinventing classics and historically informed Wagner Labels : opera review Britten : Death in Venice Antony César Tadzio Frederico Saggese Jaschiu Welsh National Opera Photo Johann Persson It was one of those evenings about which you can say I was there' , Wagner's Die Walküre at Dresden Music Festival as their historically informed Ring Cycle unfolds . And there was something astonishing about Olivia Fuchs' new production of Britten's Death in Venice for Welsh National Opera , too with its combination of theatrical and circus . arts Strong individual performances
: Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 24 December 2024 Season's Greetings from all at Planet Hugill Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Robert and all at Planet Hugill Posted by Planet Hugill at Tuesday , December 24, 2024 Email This BlogThis Share to X Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest No : comments Post a Comment Newer Post Older Post Home Subscribe to : Post Comments Atom Popular Posts this month Satisfying , yet thought-provoking : Handel's Messiah from Laurence Cummings and the Academy of Ancient Music The chapel of the Foundling Hospital where Handel performed Messiah annually Handel : Messiah Anna Devin , Tim Mead , Nick Pritchard , Cody Q . A journey through layers and
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 24 December 2024 The Dunedin Consort at Wigmore Hall : Caroline Shaw premiered alongside rare Stradella and Christmas Corelli Labels : concert review Wigmore Hall Signed handwritten draft of Thomas Hardy's The Darkling Thrush with original title Pietro Antonio Locatelli : nbsp Concerto grosso in F minor Op.1 No.8 Alessandro Stradella : nbsp Ah troppo e ver Sonata di viole Concerto-concerto grosso' , Caroline Shaw : The Holdfast Arcangelo Corelli : nbsp Concerto Grosso in G minor Op.6 No . 8 Fatto per las Nottle di Natale' Rachel Redmond , Joanna Songi , Helen Charlston , Samuel Boden , Ashley Riches , Dunedin Consort , John Butt Wigmore Hall Reviewed
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 24 December 2024 Modern aspects of the Christmas story : Gabriel Jackson's The Christmas Story and Edward Nesbit's Nativity Labels : cd review Gabriel Jackson : The Christmas Story Choir of Merton College , Oxford , The Girl Choristers of Merton College , Oxford , Owen Chan Francois Cloete organ Oxford Contemporary Sinfonia , Benjamin Nicholas conductor DELPHIAN Edward Nesbit : Nativity Wycliffe Carols Metaphysical Songs Four Christmas Lyrics The Choir of King's College , London , Angharad Lyddon mezzo-soprano Benedict Nelson baritone Anneke Hodnett harp Martin Owen horn Joseph Fort conductor DELPHIAN Reviewed 24 December 2024 Two very different but.jpg)
: , : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Monday , 23 December 2024 Vivid engagement , vigorous articulation imaginative programming : The English Concert at Wigmore Hall Labels : English Concert Wigmore Hall Vom Himmel hoch Luther's hymn in a 1541 songbook Used by Bach in his Magnificat in E Flat Marc-Antoine Charpentier , Alessandro Stradella , Purcell , Bach : Magnificat in E Flat Ciara Skerath , Katie Bray , Jess Dandy , James Way , Morgan Pearse , the English Concert , Harry Bicket Wigmore Hall 21 December 2024 An early Baroque Christmas with a variety of Christmas cantatas , French , Italian and English , alongside Bach's Christmas version of his Magnificat in a vividly articulated , brilliant
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Saturday , 21 December 2024 Opera Up-Close : Unveiling the dramatic process with Paul Curran young artists of Palm Beach Opera Labels : Letter from Florida opera review Verdi : Rigoletto Bernardo Medeiros Rigoletto Palm Beach Opera Photo : Coastal Click Photography Opera Up-Close : Unveiling the dramatic process with Paul Curran Paul Curran , Palm Beach Opera The Cornelia T . Bailey Opera Center Palm Beach , Florida 14 December 2024, Robert J Carreras For his latest Letter from Florida Robert J Carreras eavesdrops on director Paul Curran working on opera scenes with young artists from Palm Beach Opera Opera Up Close featured scenes from seven operas . Stage.png)
: : , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Thursday , 19 December 2024 Letting in the Light : from Rameau's Pygmalion Wagner's Parsifal to Christian Forshaw , Anna Semple and Schumann's Kerner Lieder at Temple Music Labels : preview Temple Music Temple Music has announced an intriguing range of events for 2025, with everything from Rameau and Wagnerian opera to song recitals from Helen Charlston and Roderick Williams . Things kick of in January 2025 with Handel's Solomon with Paul McCreesh and Gabrieli Consort Players with Tim Mead , Rowan Pierce , Anna Dennis , Hilary Cronin and Frances Gregory this was announced as part of their Autumn 2024 season Conductor Peter Selwyn and director Julia Burbach
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Wednesday , 18 December 2024 The songs of Robert Kahn : Florian Störtz Aleksandra Myslek reveal some of the gems to be found in the output of a relatively forgotten composer forced into exile by the Nazis Labels : CMF concert review Robert Kahn Robert Kahn , Robert Schumann , Erich Korngold , Paul Hindemith Florian Störtz , Aleksandra Myslek City Music Foundation at Tallow Chandlers' Hall Reviewed 16 December 2024 Forbidden by the Nazis and forced to feel to England in his 70s , the music of Robert Kahn has remained somewhat undervalued and here we were treated to a rich exploration of his song output alongside music of his contemporaries and influences I have
: : , , , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 17 December 2024 A Visit to Friends : a new opera by Colin Matthews , residencies from Allan Clayton , Helen Grime , Daniel Kidane and Leila Josefowicz at the 2025 Aldeburgh Festival Labels : Aldeburgh preview Snape Maltings Colin Matthews Whilst most people are still frantically planning for Christmas , the good folk at Britten Pears Arts are thinking much further ahead and have announced the highlights of the 2025 Aldeburgh Festival which runs from 13 to 29 June 2025. The Festival opens with the world premiere of Colin Matthews’ new opera A Visit to Friends with a libretto by William Boyd . An opera about love . Or , more accurately , about
: , : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 17 December 2024 Satisfying , yet thought-provoking : Handel's Messiah from Laurence Cummings and the Academy of Ancient Music Labels : AAM Barbican concert review Handel The chapel of the Foundling Hospital where Handel performed Messiah annually Handel : Messiah Anna Devin , Tim Mead , Nick Pritchard , Cody Quattlebaum , Academy of Ancient Music , Laurence Cummings Barbican Hall Reviewed 16 December 2024 Sometimes avoiding traditional readings and emphasising contrasts , this was a Messiah where the word was of primary importance , delivered with remarkable directness at times . I would imagine that neither Handel nor Charles Jennens who created
: Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Monday , 16 December 2024 Sinfonia Smith Square Hall awarded National Lottery Heritage Fund grant Labels : music news SJSS Sinfonia Smith Square Sinfonia Smith Square formed from the merger of Southbank Sinfonia and St John's Smith Square has been awarded 452,035 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for upgrades to Smith Square Hall . The project aims to repair the historic fabric of the building , improve accessibility , expand the facilities for players and guest artists , and create outstanding experiences for audiences and visitors through upgraded lighting , sound , heating , and ventilation systems . In line with Sinfonia Smith Square’s ambition to
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Saturday , 14 December 2024 He would stop writing if there was no-one to perform his music : for composer Stephen Goss' his latest triple album is all about a celebration of collaboration Labels : interview Stephen Goss Composer Stephen Goss has a new triple album out , Landscape and Memory on Deux-Elles which showcases his recent work and celebrates his 60th birthday . The disc includes everything from music for solo guitar to his Theorbo Concerto not to mention his Intermezzi for romantic guitar and fortepiano , along with one or two older recordings such as John Williams guitar and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Daniel in Stephen's 2012
: Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Friday , 13 December 2024 British Youth Opera's Christmas on the Strand Labels : BYO preview British Youth Opera is promising a candlelit blend of music , readings and champagne that really captures the essence of the season at its Christmas on the Strand event in Tuesday 17 December 2024 at St Clement Danes Church , the enchanting Christopher Wren church between the Aldwych and the Royal Courts of Justice . Built in 1682, Wren's church as gutted by bombing in the Blitz and restored in 1958 as the central church of the Royal Air . Force Special guest at Christmas on the Strand Joanna Scanlon will be reading a selection of secular Christmas literature , whilst%20(1).png)
: , : , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Friday , 13 December 2024 Mad , magical and mesmerising : Tom Coult's Pieces that Disappear , his debut disc from NMC Records Labels : cd review Tom Coult : Three Pieces that Disappear Beautiful Caged Thing Pleasure Garden After Lassus Anna Dennis , Daniel Pioro , BBC Philharmonic , Martyn Brabbins , Andrew Gourlay and Elena Schwarz NMC Records Music that is misremembered or did not exist in the first place , music that layers Lassus with evocative reminiscences merging Britten and Ravel . Throughout , Coult's command of his orchestral palate is devastating and his writing for soloists Anna Dennis and Daniel Pioro highly seductive Tom Coult is currently
: Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Wednesday , 11 December 2024 Inspired by Auden Isherwoods' The Ascent of F6, Nathan Williamson's new opera for London Youth Opera has a clear message Labels : interview preview London Youth Opera's latest production is a new opera , The Quest inspired by the Auden and Isherwood play , The Ascent of F6 The opera has a clear , contemporary message both for the young performers and for older adult audience members . I recently met up with composer Nathan Williamson to find out more London Youth Opera s 2024 production is the world premiere of The Quest by composer Nathan Williamson and librettist Megg Nicol at the Shaw Theatre with performances on 14 and 15 December
: Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 10 December 2024 Fundraising concert for Nadine Benjamin Labels : preview As many of you are probably aware , the soprano Nadine Benjamin is suffering from severe and debilitating complications from Long Covid and she currently needs 24 hour care to keep her safe and help her get back on her feet . nbsp As the NHS does not currently have an in-patient Long Covid facility , she is currently in a private hospital , recovering , and unable to function fully or work . Friends have started a GoFundMe page for . her On Thursday 12 December 2024, there is a fundraising gala for her at St Paul's Church , Covent Garden . We are promised an evening of opera and.jpg)
: : , Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Tuesday , 10 December 2024 Fine-grained tone classical style : Kyan Quartet in Beethoven , Schumann Caroline Shaw at Conway Hall's Sunday Concert Series Labels : concert review Conway Hall Andrey Razumovsky from 1810 by Austrian artist Lampi the Younger Caroline Shaw : Valencia Schumann : nbsp Quartet in A , Op.41 No.3 Caroline Shaw : nbsp Entr'acte Beethoven : Quartet in E minor , Op.59 No.2 Razumovsky' Kyan Quartet Conway Hall Sunday Concerts Reviewed 8 December 2024 The young Kyan Quartet bring fine grained tone and fine classical style to a programme that moved from Beethoven to Schumann to contemporary composer Caroline Shaw On 8 December 2024, the Kyan,%20Franco%20Fagioli%20(Poro),%20Maayan%20Licht%20(Alessandro)%20in%20Vincis%20Alessandro_%20Akt%201_(c)_Falk%20von%20Traubenberg.JPG)
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Monday , 9 December 2024 Bayreuth goes to Venice : Cavalli's Pompeo Magno the centrepiece of the 2025 Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival Labels : Bayreuth Baroque preview Handel's Flavio at Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival in 2023 Rémy Brès-Feuillet in bath Yuriy Mynenko Photo : Clemens Manser The Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival , based at the 18th century Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth , will be going to Venice for the 2025 festival . Running from 4 to 14 September 2025, next year's festival will feature a new production of Cavalli's 1666 opera Pompeo Magno The festival's artistic director , countertenor Max Emanuel Cenic will direct and sing the title role
: : Pages Robert's Link Tree About Us Contact Us Twitter : RobertHugill Live reviews archive CD reviews archive Interviews archive Monday , 9 December 2024 Love Lines : deep emotions island soundscapes in London Sinfonietta's programme of contemporary Scottish music at Kings Place Labels : concert review Kings Place London Sinfonietta Love Lines Electra Perivolaris Love Lines Judith Weir , James MacMillan , Peter Maxwell Davies , Electra Perivolaris London Sinfonietta Kings Place Reviewed 6 December 2024 Contemporary Scottish music in a programme centred on Peter Maxwell Davies' 2004 clarinet quintet exploring deep emotions arising from pregnancy , linked by a soundscape by Electra Perivolaris inspired by her home on . Arran As part of Kings Place s Scotland Unwrapped season , London