James Lisney talks to Robert Beattie
Robert Beattie
Glyndebourne’s New Die Zauberflöte Misfires, Despite an Excellent Cast
United Kingdom Glyndebourne Festival Opera 2019 [3] – Mozart, Die Zauberflöte: Soloists, Chorus of the Glyndebourne Festival, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Ryan Wigglesworth (conductor), Glyndebourne Opera House, Lewes, 21.7.2019. (RB)
and chorus (c) Bill Cooper
Belfast Hears Outstanding Performances by the Pacific Boychoir
United Kingdom Various composers, Choral Recital: Pacific Boychoir / Andrew Brown (director), St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, 30.6.2019. (RB)
A Fitting Celebration of the Belfast Philharmonic Choir’s 145th Anniversary
United Kingdom Mendelssohn, Elijah: Elaine McDaid (soprano); Dawn Burns (alto); Conor Breen (tenor); Kevin Neville (bass); Belfast Philharmonic Choir; Ulster Orchestra / Stephen Doughty (conductor); David Stevens (0rgan), Ulster Hall, Belfast, 7.6.2019. (RB)
CHORUS MASTER STEPHEN DOUGHTY IN CONVERSATION WITH ROBERT BEATTIE
Stephen Doughty Tells Robert Beattie About the Work of the Belfast Philharmonic Choir
The Belfast Philharmonic Choir is Northern Ireland’s only symphonic choir. I went to listen to them perform in St Anne’s Cathedral a few months ago and was impressed with the quality of the singing and the range of their repertoire. The repertoire of the choir is exceptionally varied and includes key works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner. The Phil also champion new works and in 2015 they performed the world premiere of James Whitbourn’s The Seven Heavens which was written especially to commemorate the choir’s 140th anniversary.
They will be performing Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Ulster Orchestra on 7 June. I spoke to their Chorus Master Stephen Doughty about preparations for the performance and about the work of the choir more generally.
MULTI-FACETED MUSICIAN JOY LISNEY IN CONVERSATION WITH ROBERT BEATTIE
Joy Lisney talks to Robert Beattie
I first came across Joy Lisney at a concert in London’s Purcell Room where she performed all five Beethoven Cello Sonatas with her father, James (review click here). I was struck by the extraordinarily high level of her technical accomplishment and musicianship, and her willingness to take on such demanding repertoire at a relatively young age.
The Met: Live in HD Ends Season With a Marvellous Dialogues des Carmélites
United States Poulenc, Dialogues des Carmélites: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor) broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera, New York to the Dundonald Omniplex, Belfast 11.5.2019. (RB)
A Sparkling Performance of La fille du régiment from the Met
United States Donizetti, La fille du régiment: Cast, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Enrique Mazzola (Conductor) broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera New York to Dundonald Omniplex, Belfast, 2.3.2019. (RB)
