United Kingdom Earthcycle: David Gordon (keyboards), Jackie Oates (vocals), Orchestra of the Swan / David Le Page (violin, director). Stratford Playhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon, 7.2.2023. (CC)
Colin Clarke
Fabulous Silver Jubilee Year concert: a real celebration of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
United Kingdom Brahms, Mendelssohn: Maxim Vengerov (violin), Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra / Marios Papadopoulos (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 6.2.2023. (CC)
Mezzo Ambroisine Bré impresses with pared-down Les Talens Lyriques in Tragic Handelian figures
United Kingdom Handel, Corelli, Tragic Handelian figures: Ambroisine Bré (mezzo-soprano), Les Talens Lyriques / Christophe Rousset (diirection and harpsichord). Wigmore Hall, London, 5.2.2023. (CC)
Strong singing elsewhere in the Royal Opera’s Tannhäuser current revival compensates for the ailing main man
United Kingdom Wagner, Tannhäuser (1875 version): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Sebastian Weigle (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 1.2.2023. (CC)
A strong cast but a touch more magic to Magic Flute at Covent Garden would not have gone amiss
United Kingdom Mozart, Die Zauberflöte: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Maxim Emelyanychev (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 22.12 2022. (CC)
Charpentier at Christmas: Les Arts Florissants’s beautiful, truly touching Barbican concert
United Kingdom Charpentier at Christmas: Les Arts Florissants / William Christie (conductor) with Emmanuelle de Negri, Julie Roset (sopranos), Nicholas Scott (high tenor), Bastien Rimondi (tenor), Lisandro Abadie (bass-baritone). Barbican Hall, London, 19.12.2022. (CC)
Messiah from Cummings and the AAM at the Barbican was every shade of right
United Kingdom Handel, Messiah: Amanda Forsythe (soprano), Jess Dandy (contralto), Thomas Walker (tenor), Ashley Riches (bass), Academy of Ancient Music / Laurence Cummings (director/harpsichord). Barbican Hall, London, 16.12.2022. (CC)
Virtuosity aplenty from Alim Beisembayev’s Leeds Piano Competition 2021 Prizewinner Recital
United Kingdom Bach, Schubert, Liszt – Leeds Piano Competition 2021 Prizewinner Recital: Alim Beisembayev (piano). Wigmore Hall, 12.12.2022. (CC)
