UK Concerts

All concert reviews from the UK.

A gripping, inspiring Three Choirs Festival performance of a major work by Francis Pott

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Three Choirs Festival 2023 [5] – Svane, Bax, Holst, Pott: April Fredrick (soprano), Clare Presland (mezzo-soprano), Marcus Farnsworth (baritone), Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / Adrian Partington (conductor). Gloucester Cathedral, 25.7.2023. (JQ)

April Fredrick, Clare Presland and Marcus Farnsworth © James O’Driscoll

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Freshly conceived, brilliant reading of Beethoven’s Ninth performed at the Proms to the highest standard

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Prom 12 – Helen Grime, Beethoven: Eleanor Dennis (soprano), Karen Cargill (mezzo-soprano), Nicky Spence (tenor), Michael Mofidian (bass-baritone), BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra / Ryan Wigglesworth (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 23.7.2023. (CC)

Ryan Wigglesworth conducts the BBC SSO © BBC/Sisi Burn

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Intriguing and interesting programme of British music at the Three Choirs Festival

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Three Choirs Festival 2023 [3] – Corp, Vaughan Williams, Higgins: Roderick Williams (baritone), Marta Fontanals-Simmons (mezzo-soprano), Rebecca Jones (viola), Three Choirs Festival Chorus, BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Martyn Brabbins (conductor). Gloucester Cathedral, 23.7.2023. (JQ)

Martyn Brabbins conducts Marta Fontanals-Simmons (mezzo-soprano), Roderick Williams (baritone), Three Choirs Festival Chorus and the BBC NOW © James O’Driscoll

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Electrifying Elgar sets the seal on a memorable evening at the Three Choirs Festival

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Three Choirs Festival 2023 [2] – Alberga, Vaughan Williams, Elgar, The Holy City: Roderick Williams (baritone), Ruairi Bowen (tenor), Zsolt-Tihamér Visontay (violin), Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Gloucester Cathedral Choristers, Gloucester Cathedral Youth Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra / Adrian Partington (conductor). Gloucester Cathedral, 22.7.2023. (JQ)

Zsolt-Tihamér Visontay (violin) and Adrian Partington (conductor) © James O’Driscoll

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Carolyn Sampson and Mahan Esfahani’s richly rewarding recital opens the Three Choirs Festival 2023

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Three Choirs Festival 2023 [1] – JS Bach, CPE Bach, Petzold, Couperin, Habibian, ‘For Anna Magdalena’: Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord). Holy Trinity Church, Longlevens, Gloucester, 22.7.2023. (JQ)

Mahan Esfahani and Carolyn Sampson © James O’Driscoll

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A kaleidoscope of music at the BBC Proms from Elena Urioste and Tadaaki Otaka’s BBC NOW

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Prom 7 – Rachmaninoff, Coleridge-Taylor, Beethoven: Elena Urioste (violin), BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Tadaaki Otaka (conductor). Recorded (directed by Seren Irvine) for BBC TV on 19.7.2023. (JPr)

Tadaaki Otaka conducts the BBC NOW © BBC/Andy Paradise

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A gripping Mahler First and an icy Rachmaninoff concerto from Stephen Hough at the Proms

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Prom 6 – Grace-Evangeline Mason, Rachmaninoff, Mahler: Sir Stephen Hough (piano), BBC Philharmonic / Mark Wigglesworth (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 18.7.2023. (MBr)

Mark Wigglesworth conducts pianist Sir Stephen Hough and the BBC Philharmonic © BBC/Chris Christodoulou

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