United States Aspen Music Festival [2]: Benedict Music Tent, Aspen, Colorado, 6-8.7.2021. (HS)
Chamber music covers a wide range in Aspen’s big tent
Year: 2021
Wonderfully sung and conducted Don Giovanni revival restores opera properly to Covent Garden
United Kingdom Mozart, Don Giovanni: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Constantin Trinks (conductor). Royal Opera House, London, 5.7.2021. (MB)
Mike Bartlett’s challenging Contractions got a mesmeric, triumphant production from whatstick theatre
United Kingdom Mark Bartlett’s Contractions: Filmed by Jessye Curtis and Alexander Masika-Ferguson (edited by Kai Cook) at the Etcetera Theatre, Camden, in June 2021 and reviewed when streamed on 4.7.2021. (JPr)
Samuel Hudson introduces the 2021 Three Choirs Festival in conversation with John Quinn
Samuel Hudson discusses his 2021 Three Choirs Festival with John Quinn
When Samuel Hudson took up his post as Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral in autumn 2019, he must have been very excited. Not only was he to be in charge of the music at one of England’s leading cathedrals, but also the post carried with it the artistic directorship of the Three Choirs Festival one year in every three – and it was to be Worcester’s turn to host the festival in the summer of 2020. He moved to Worcester from Blackburn Cathedral, where he had been Director of Music since 2011, and his musical pedigree is strong. He was organ scholar successively at Girton College, Cambridge and Wells Cathedral, after which he held posts at two significant churches, St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, London and All Saints’ Church, Hertford, prior to his move to Blackburn.
Two forces to be reckoned with debut at Blossom: Florence Price and Michelle Cann
United States Blossom Music Festival [1], An American Celebration: Michelle Cann (piano), Cleveland Orchestra / Brett Mitchell (conductor), Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 4.7.2021. (MSJ)
© Roger Mastroianni
Hearing Mahler in a new light: a chamber version of his Ninth Symphony from the English Symphony Orchestra
United Kingdom Mahler: English Symphony Orchestra / Kenneth Woods (conductor). Filmed in March 2021 in the Wyastone Concert Hall, Monmouth, and streaming from 7.7.2021 (free-to-view for first four days). (JPr)
The Aspen Music Festival is back live with a Beethoven-heavy weekend
United States Aspen Music Festival [1]: Benedict Music Tent, Aspen, Colorado, 1-3.7.2021. (HS)
2021 Grimeborn Opera Festival: three Hackney Empire performances of Die Walküre in August
A thrilling new production of Wagner’s Die Walküre will headline the 2021 Grimeborn Opera Festival
Wagner’s Die Walküre headlines the 2021 Grimeborn Opera Festival and is staged over three nights at Hackney Empire in a version by Jonathan Dove not seen in London since its premiere in the 1990s. Other festival productions will be staged in Arcola’s exciting new covered outdoor venue, Arcola Outside.