United Kingdom Copland: BBC Philharmonic / John Wilson (conductor). BBC Philharmonic Studio, MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, 14.6.2017. (RBa)
Rob Barnett
Eleventh English Music Festival Continues with Unflagging Confidence
United Kingdom English Music Festival – Vaughan Williams, Delius, Holst, Phillips: Ilona Domnich (soprano), BBC Concert Orchestra / Martin Yates (conductor), Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester-on Thames. 26.5.2017. (RBa)
Wilson and CBSO in Spiritual and Temporal Vaughan Williams and Bax’s Forest Magic
United Kingdom Vaughan Williams, Bax: Rachel Kelly (mezzo), Neal Davies (bass-baritone), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / John Wilson (conductor). Symphony Hall, Birmingham. 10.5.2017. (RBa)
Brave emphasis on spirituality at Bridgewater Hall
United Kingdom Vaughan Williams, Gubaidulina: Vadim Gluzman (violin), Robin Tritschler (tenor), BBC Philharmonic / Vassily Sinaisky (conductor). Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. 23.4.2017. (RBa)
A Prized Rarity and an Old Friend, both French and Grand, Have their Night in Birmingham
United Kingdom Roussel, Saint-Saëns: François Le Roux (baritone), Alessandro Fisher (tenor), Kathryn Rudge (mezzo), Jonathan Scott (organ) / Yan Pascal Tortelier (conductor). BBC Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Symphony Hall, Birmingham. 7.4.2017. (RBa)
A North-American theme in Manchester
United Kingdom Harbison, Barber, Rachmaninov: James Ehnes (violin), BBC Philharmonic / James Feddeck (conductor). Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 1.4.2017. (RBa)
IN MEMORIAM LOUIS FRÉMAUX (1921-2017)
Louis Frémaux (13 August 1921 – 20 March 2017) – an obituary by Rob Barnett
As ever, the bare bones of any person’s life tell us but a small part of the individual’s story and heritage. Louis Frémaux is no different in that respect. That said we need to lay them out:
– Born in Aire-sur-la-Lys, Pas-de-Calais, France in 1921 and he studied at the Valenciennes Conservatoire.
– War service in the Resistance and then as a Foreign Legion Captain in the French armed forces in Vietnam (1945-46)
– Resumed his war-interrupted studies, this time at the Paris Conservatoire with Louis Fourestier where he took first prize in conducting in 1952.
A triumphant all-Vaughan Williams concert in North-West England
United Kingdom Vaughan Williams: Alison Pearce (soprano), Peter Edge (baritone), Chester Music Society Choir, Liverpool Sinfonia / Graham Jordan Ellis (conductor) Chester Cathedral, Chester. 25.3.2017. (RBa)