Festival 2024 – Page 23 – Seen and Heard International

Pianist Kawamura and the Dorics prove Crail Parish Church the ‘perfect place for chamber music’

03/08/202429/06/2024 by Simon Thompson

United Kingdom Various, East Neuk Festival 2024 [1]: Crail Parish Church, Fife. (SRT)

Hisako Kawamura playing in Crail Parish Church © Neil Hanna

Sofia Opera’s revival of Das Rheingold has more colourful visual splendours backed by magnificent singing

03/08/202429/06/2024 by Gregor Tassie

Bulgaria Wagner, Das Rheingold: Soloists, ‘Talasumche’ Children’s Vocal and Drama Foundation, Orchestra of Sofia Opera and Ballet / Evan-Alexis Christ (conductor). Sofia Opera, 15.6.2024. (GT)

Sofia Opera and Ballet’s *Das Rheingold*

Beethoven’s path to greatness with the Ehnes Quartet at the Montreal Chamber Music Festival

03/08/202428/06/2024 by Laurence Vittes

Canada Beethoven, Montreal Chamber Music Festival 2024: Ehnes Quartet (James Ehnes, Amy Schwartz Moretti [violin], Che-Yen Chen [viola], Edward Arron [cello]), Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt (viola). Bourgie Hall, Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal. (LV)

Yhe Ehnes Quartet playing Beethoven at Bourgie Hall © Fili 周 Gibbons/Studio Apothicaire

Nadine Benjamin and Jan Karl Rautio make perfect musical partners at the Thaxted Festival

03/08/202425/06/2024 by Colin Clarke

United Kingdom Thaxted Festival 2024 [1] – Liszt, Hall, Verdi, Puccini: Nadine Benjamin (soprano), Jan Karl Rautio (piano). Thaxted Parish Church, Essex, 22.6.2024. (CC)

Nadine Benjamin and Jan Karl Rautio after their recital at Thaxted © Bertille Cascio

Francesca Tiburzi a striking and memorable Tosca at The Grange Festival 2024

03/08/202424/06/2024 by Chris Kettle

United Kingdom The Grange Festival 2024 – Puccini, Tosca: Soloists, The Grange Festival Chorus (chorus master: William Vann), The Grange Festival Children’s Chorus (chorus master: David Hall), Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Francesco Cilluffo (conductor). The Grange, Hampshire 21.6.2024. (CK)

The Grange Festival 2024 *Tosca –* Andrés Presno (Cavaradossi) © Craig Fuller

Garsington Opera’s new A Midsummer Night’s Dream, though atmospheric, lacks an overall concept

03/08/202424/06/2024 by Curtis Rogers

United Kingdom Garsington Opera 2024 [3] – Britten, A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Soloists, Garsington Opera Youth Company, Philharmonia Orchestra / Douglas Boyd (conductor). Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 21.6.2024. (CR)

Lucy-Crowe (Tytania) and Richard Burkhard (Bottom) © Craig Fuller

At the end of the Metropolitan Line: sublime midsummer chamber music from Paul Lewis and friends

03/08/202420/06/2024 by Christopher Sallon

United Kingdom Midsummer Music Festival 2024: St Mary’s Church, Amersham. 8.6.2024. (CSa)

Outstanding music-making in the opening concert of Chicago’s 2024 Grant Park Music Festival

03/08/202419/06/2024 by James Zychowicz

United States Grant Park Music Festival [1] – Elgar, Holst: Christian Tetzlaff (violin), Lauren Decker (contralto), Grant Park Music Festival Chorus and Orchestra / Carlos Kalmar (conductor). Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago, 15.6.2024. (JLZ)