Festivals

Rare Performance of Berkeley’s Stabat Mater Combines Austerity with Profundity

by

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Ravel, Michael Berkeley, Colin Matthews, Poulenc,Lennox Berkeley: The Berkeley Ensemble, The Marian Consort / David Wordsworth (conductor), Cheltenham Music Festival, Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham, 17.7.2016. (RJ)

The Berkeley Ensemble [Luke Russell (flute), Emily Cockbill (oboe), John Slack (clarinet, bass clarinet), Andrew Watson (bassoon), Paul Cott (horn), Fontane Liang (harp), Jolwey Cragg (percussion), Sophie Mather (violin), Francesca Barritt (violin), Matthew Kettle (viola), Gemma Wareham (cello), Lachland Radford (double bass)]

The Marian Consort [Emma Walshe (soprano), Gwendolen Martin (soprano), Rory McCleery (countertenor and director), Benedict Hymas (tenor), Joh Stainsby (baritone), Nick Ashby (bass)]

Read more

Keyboard Mania Engulfs Cheltenham

by

Boshoi-logo

Keyboard Mania Engulfs Cheltenham

If Cheltenham has taken on a somewhat Surrealistic aspect over the past week, blame it on that musical eccentric Erik Satie born 150 years ago. As you stroll around the town you come across a number of piano-like or piano related objects ranging from painted pianos, pianos planted with flowers, a tubular bell piano, a fruit machine synthesiser and even aircraft landing gear sporting a keyboard. There’s also an electro-mechanical lithophone, but please don’t ask me to describe it or how it works.

Read more

Bevan, Loges and Kynoch Offer a Sumptious Seasonal Spread

by

Boshoi-logo

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Schubert, Beethoven, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Brahms, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Fauré, Richard Strauss, Peter Cornelius, Wolf: Mary Bevan (soprano), Stephan Loges (baritone), Sholto Kynoch (piano), Cheltenham Music Festival, Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham, 13.7.2016. (RJ)

Read more