Festival 2024 – Page 21 – Seen and Heard International

Anne Akiko Meyers in a stunning performance of Fandango at the Grant Park Music Festival

03/08/202411/07/2024 by James Zychowicz

United States Grant Park Music Festival 2024 [2] – Various: Anne Akiko Meyers (violin), Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra / Ludovic Morlot (conductor). Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago, 5.7.2024. (JLZ)

Anne Akiko Meyers and the Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra © Grittani Creative LTD

This Aix-en-Provence production quietly, powerfully rethought and reimagined Madama Butterfly

03/08/202410/07/2024 by Mark Berry

France Festival d’Aix-en-Provence [1] – Puccini, Madama Butterfly: Soloists, Lyon Opera Chorus (chorus master: Benedict Kearns), Lyon Opera Orchestra / Daniele Rustoni (conductor). Théâtre de l’Archeveché, Aix-en-Provence, 8.7.2024. (MB)

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence 2024: *Madama Butterfly* © Ruth Walz

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

03/08/202410/07/2024 by Michael Cookson

United 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

A fine weekend for concertos at the Aspen Music Festival

03/08/202410/07/2024 by Harvey Steiman

United States Aspen Music Festival 2024 [2]: Aspen, Colorado. (HS)

A tribute to Peter Schickele: Victoria Chiang and James Dunham play P.D.Q. Bach’s Sonata for Viola Four Hands © Diego Redel

A delightful performance of The Fairy Queen by the Armonico Consort and Players in Thaxted

03/08/202408/07/2024 by Colin Clarke

United Kingdom Thaxted Festival 2024 [3] – Purcell, The Fairy Queen, Z 629: Oz Clarke (narrator), Eloise Irving, Hannah Fraser Mackenzie, Laura Moretto (sopranos), William Towers (alto), Matthew Pochin (tenor), Robert Davies (bass), Armonico Consort & Baroque Players / Christopher Monks (harpsichord / director). Thaxted Parish Church, 6.7.2024. (CC)

Purcell’s *The Fairy Queen* at the Thaxted Festival 2024

Matthew Aucoin, Alisa Weilerstein and Renée Fleming highlight a piquant first week in Aspen

03/08/202407/07/2024 by Harvey Steiman

United States Aspen Music Festival 2024 [1]: Aspen, Colorado. (HS)

Bold lighting enhances Matthew Aucoin’s Music for New Bodies at Aspen Music Festival © Diego Redel

A delightful, poignant and thought-provoking Penarth lunchtime Schubertiade

04/12/202406/07/2024 by Glyn Pursglove

United Kingdom Penarth Chamber Music Festival – Schubert: Katharine Dain (soprano), James Gilchrist (tenor), Ben Goldscheider (horn), Simon Crawford-Phillips (piano), Ágnes Langer (violin), Robert Plane (clarinet). Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, 29.6.2024. (GPu)

Bach, birdsong and bacon butties: an early start to the Romsey Chamber Music Festival 2024

03/08/202404/07/2024 by Chris Kettle

United Kingdom Various – Romsey Chamber Music Festival 2024 [1]: Sophia Jin (soprano), Thomas Guthrie (baritone), Imogen Whitehead (trumpet), Laura Rickard, Emma Roijackers, Luke Hsu (violin), José Nunes, Joseph Griffin, Coby Mendez (viola), Rainer Crosett, Lydia Hillerudh (cello), James Trowbridge (double bass), Johan Löfving (guitar), Jennifer Walsh, Michael Cohen-Weissert, Caspar Vos (piano). Houghton Lodge Gardens, Romsey Abbey, St. Mark’s Church, Ampfield, United Reformed Church, Romsey, 24-30.6.2024. (CK)