Colin Clarke

A superb Christmas at Westminster Abbey progamme: what music could be sweeter?

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Live from London Christmas, Christmas at Westminster Abbey – What Sweeter Music: Catherine Bott (reader), Sally Price (harp), Peter Holder organ), The Choir of Westminster Abbey / James O’Donnell (director). Livestreamed via VOCES8 Foundation (click here), 15.12.2020. (CC)

Christmas at Westminster Abbey (c) Libby Percival

Read more

A Cadogan Hall thinned-down Messiah of bright hope from VOCES8, ECO, and high-profile soloists

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Handel, Messiah HWV 56 (shortened version): Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Andrew Staples (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass), VOCES8, English Chamber Orchestra / Nicholas Kraemer (director / harpsichord). Cadogan Hall, London, 11.12.2020. Streamed via Live from London Christmas (click here). (CC)

VOCES8’s Messiah at Cadogan Hall

Read more

Teatro Comunale di Bologna’s Cav & Pag provides the shot of versimo we surely need

by

ItalyItaly Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna / Frédéric Chaslin (conductor). Originally livestreamed (9.2.2020) on OperaStreaming by Edunova. This was reviewed on YouTube and it is available via SoundCloud. (CC)

Cavalleria rusticana (c) Rocco Casaluci

Read more

The Tallis Scholars are at the top of their game gifting us some true glories of the polyphonic age

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Live from London Christmas – The Tallis Scholars: The Tallis Scholars / Peter Phillips (conductor). VOCES8 Centre, London, 12.12.2020. (CC)

Peter Phillips (conductor) and The Tallis Scholars (c) Libby Percival

Read more

Beautifully rhythmically sprung and full of life singing from Apollo5 Live from London at Christmas

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Live from London Christmas – The Crimson Sun: Apollo5 (Penelope Appleyard [soprano], Clare Stewart [mezzo-soprano], Josh Cooter, Oli Marin-Smith [tenors], Greg Link [bass]). Livestreamed from VOCES8 Centre, London, 6.12.2020. (CC)

Apollo5 at VOCES8 Centre (c) Libby Percival

Read more

Fascinating new Modena staging of Massenet’s Werther involves intelligent use of technology

by

ItalyItaly Massenet, Werther: Soloists, Scuola voci bianche del Teatro Communale di Modena, Orchestra Filarmonica dell’Opera Italiana Bruno Bartoletti / Francesco Pasqualetti (conductor). Livestreamed from Teatro Communale Luciano Pavarotti, Modena, via operastreaming.com (click here) by Edunova on 4.12.2020. (CC)

Teatro Communale Luciano Pavarotti’s Werther (c) Rolando Paolo Guerzoni

Read more

VOCES8 and The Aeolians of Oakwood University celebrate the festive season in very different ways

by
Roderick Williams (baritone) & VOCES8 (c) Libby Percival/LFL

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Live from London Christmas – Solstice: VOCES8 (with Roderick Williams, baritone) and The Aeolians of Oakwood University directed by Jason Max Ferdinand. VOCES8 Centre, London, and Oakwood University Church (Seventh Day Adventist), Huntsville, Alabama, USA, livestreamed on 5.12.2020. (CC)

Read more

A Guardian Angel is a radiant opening concert for VOCES8’s Live from London Christmas

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Live from London Christmas – A Guardian Angel: VOCES8 and Rachel Podger (violin). VOCES8 Centre, London, 1.12.2020, reviewed as a livestream. (CC)

Rachel Podger (violin) and VOCES8 (c) Libby Percival

Read more