The International Chamber Music Academy at Ochsenhausen comes up gold at Bad Buchau’s Goldener Saal

GermanyGermany Second International Chamber Music Academy at the Landesakademie in Ochsenhausen [3]: in partnership with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Faculty members Matthias Buchholz (viola), Hillel Zori (cello), Zora Slokar (French horn), Elina Gotsouliak (piano), and students. Goldener Saal, Bad Buchau, 16.7.2023. (LV)

Leonid Surkov, Kylie Tan, Itamar Gadol and Matthias Buchholz play Britten © Saxton Rose

Read more

Elgar’s The Apostles is a richly rewarding end to the 2023 Three Choirs Festival

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Three Choirs Festival 2023 [11] – Elgar: Philippa Boyle (soprano – Virgin Mary), Martha McLorinan (mezzo-soprano – Mary Magdalene), Michael Bell (tenor – St John), John Savournin (bass-baritone – Judas), James Geidt (baritone – St Peter), Dingle Yandell (bass-baritone – Jesus), Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra / Adrian Partington (conductor). Gloucester Cathedral 29.7.2023. (JQ)

Elgar’s The Apostles closes the 2023 Three Choirs Festival

Read more

A misguided repertoire choice for the debut of the Three Choirs Festival Voices

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Three Choirs Festival [10] – Vaughan Williams, Fitkin: James Hall (countertenor), Dominic Sedgwick (baritone), Samuel West (narrator), Worcester Cathedral Choristers, Three Choirs Festival Voices, Philharmonia Orchestra / Samuel Hudson (conductor). Gloucester Cathedral, 28.7.2023. (JQ)

Conductor Samuel Hudson with Samuel West (left) and James Hall (right) © Dale Hodgetts

Read more

A fine account of the St John Passion at the Three Choirs Festival

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Three Choirs Festival 2023 [8] – Bach: Soloists, Three Cathedral Choirs, Corelli Orchestra / Geraint Bowen (conductor).  Gloucester Cathedral, 27.7.2023. (JQ)

St John Passion at the Three Choirs Festival © Dale Hodgetts

Read more

Garanča, Zeppenfeld and Heras-Casado make Bayreuth’s new Parsifal memorable even in 2D

GermanyGermany Bayreuth Festival 2023 [1] – Wagner, Parsifal: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival / Pablo Heras-Casado. Recorded (directed by Michael Beyer) at the Bayreuther Festspielhaus, Germany, 25.7.2023. (JPr)

Bayreuth Festival 2023 – standing: Georg Zeppenfeld (Gurnemanz) and Elīna Garanča (Kundry) © Enrico Nawrath

Read more

An expertly performed Choral Fantasia by the ORA Singers at the Three Choirs Festival

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Three Choirs Festival 2023 [7] – A Choral Fantasia: Oriel Singers, ORA Singers / Suzi Digby (conductor). Gloucester Cathedral, 26.7.2023. (JQ)

The combined choirs singing Spem in alium © Dale Hodgetts

Read more