Michael Cookson

Mullova and Beatson at Paxton is likely the most exceptional recital I have reported on in recent years

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Music at Paxton – Summer Festival of Chamber Music 2024 [1] – Beethoven, Schubert: Viktoria Mullova (violin), Alasdair Beatson (piano). Picture Gallery, Paxton House, Scottish Borders, 19.7.2024. (MC)

Viktoria Mullova (violin) and Alasdair Beatson (piano) © Aga Tomaszek

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Buxton’s new and first-rate Ernani production by Jamie Manton provided captivating drama

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Buxton International Festival [3] – Verdi, Ernani: Soloists, BIF Chorus, Orchestra of Opera North / Adrian Kelly (conductor). Buxton International Festival, Buxton Opera House, Derbyshire, 10.7.2024. (MC)

Cast of Ernani with André Heyboer (centre) as Don Carlo © Genevieve Girling

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La tragédie de Carmen was a captivating evening of entertaining music theatre at Buxton

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Bizet, La tragédie de Carmen (after Carmen by Bizet and Mérimée. Reimagined by Peter Brook using libretto by Jean-Claude Carrière and music score by Marius Constant): Soloists, Northern Chamber Orchestra / Iwan Davies (conductor). Buxton International Festival, Derbyshire, 9.7.2024. (MC)

Niamh O’Sullivan (Carmen) and Elgan Llŷr Thomas (Don José) © Genevieve Girling

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An uplifting, small-scale production of The Boatswain’s Mate at Buxton was a real treat

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Buxton International Festival 2024 [1] – Ethel Smyth, The Boatswain’s Mate: Soloists, Chorus and Instrumental Trio / Rebecca Warren (direction). Buxton International Festival, Pavilion Arts Centre, Derbyshire, 8.7.2024. (MC)

[l-r] Rebecca Warren (piano), Elizabeth Findon (Mrs Waters) and Theo Perry (Ned Travers) © Genevieve Girling

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Haydn’s The Seasons in Dresden had an essentially sunlit disposition

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GermanyGermany Dresden Music Festival 2024 [11] – Haydn, The Seasons (Die Jahreszeiten): Lina Johnson (soprano, Hanne), Tilman Lichdi (tenor, Lukas), Matthias Winckhler (bass-baritone, Simon), La Capella Nacional de Catalunya, Le Concert des Nations / Jordi Savall (conductor). Kulturpalast Dresden, 30.5.2024. (MC)

[front l-r] Lina Johnson (soprano), Jordi Savall (conductor), Tilman Lichdi (tenor), and Matthias Winckhler (baritone) © Oliver Killig

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At Dresden’s Frauenkirche soprano Jeanine De Bique soared to great heights

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Dresden Music Festival 2024 [10] – ‘Mirrors’ (music by Handel, Graun, Vinci, Telemann, Broschi): Jeanine De Bique (soprano), Concerto Köln / Evgeny Sviridov (concertmaster). Frauenkirche, Dresden, 29.5.2024. (MC)

Jeanine De Bique (soprano) and Concerto Köln © Stephan Floss

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Hooray for Hollywood and highly satisfying Tchaikovsky from Hope, Vogler and the DSO Berlin in Dresden

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GermanyGermany Dresden Music Festival 2024 [9] – Price, Rózsa, Williams, Rózsa and Tchaikovsky: Daniel Hope (violin), Jan Vogler (cello), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin / Anna Rakitina (conductor). Frauenkirche, Dresden, 28.5.2024. (MC)

Daniel Hope (violin), Jan Vogler (cello), Anna Rakitina (conductor) and DSO Berlin © Oliver Killig

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Manfred Honeck and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra sound magnificent in Dresden

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GermanyGermany Dresden Music Festival 2024 [8] – Tarrodi, Sibelius, Dvořák: Daniel Lozakovich (violin), Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / Manfred Honeck (conductor). Kulturpalast Dresden, 26.5.2024. (MC)

Manfred Honeck conducts violinist Daniel Lozakovich and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra © Oliver Killig

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