The 12th Malcolm Arnold Festival. Royal and Derngate and St Matthew’s Church, Northampton, 14-15.10.2017 (RBa)
Articles & Interviews
The master list of news, features and interviews
What is the Critic’s Job? A Review of A. O. Scott’s Recent Book
INSIGHTFUL SENSE
Better Living Through Criticism: How to Think About Art, Pleasure, Beauty and Truth by A. O. Scott. Penguin, 291pp (available from Amazon)
English Music Festival in Yorkshire Lifts the Lid Off an English Treasury
United Kingdom Stanford, Ireland, Holst, Moeran, Alwyn, Delius, Howells, Milford, Vaughan Williams, W. S. Lloyd Webber, Cyril Scott, Fogg, Brian, Phibbs, Pantcheff, Bach, Butterworth, Orr, Somervell, Finzi, Armstrong Gibbs: Rupert Marshall-Luck (violin), Joseph Spooner (cello), Duncan Honeybourne (piano, organ), Rebeca Omordia (piano), Christopher Foster (bass), Kathryn Moseley (piano). The English Music Festival. St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth, Leyburn, Yorkshire, 6-8.10.2017. (RBa)
JIŘÍ BĔLOHLÁVEK (1946-2017) AND THE CZECH CONDUCTING LEGACY
Jiří Bělohlávek and the Czech Conducting Legacy
One mourns the recent passing of Czech conductor Jiří Bělohlávek (24 February 1946 – 31 May 2017) not only because he was a wonderfully discerning musician, but also because he perpetuated a conducting legacy that linked back to the great Czech composers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
JUSTIN DOYLE DISCUSSES MONTEVERDI WITH MARK BERRY
Justin Doyle Discusses Monteverdi with Mark Berry
For his first concerts as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the RIAS Chamber Choir, Justin Doyle finds himself very much in at the deep end: dual-venue performances of Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers of the Blessed Virgin (at the Pierre Boulez Saal) and the Missa ‘In illo tempore’, with which it was published (just around the corner, at St Hedwig’s Cathedral). ‘Finds himself’, one might ask, or was he pushed? I was lucky enough to be able to do so, on the lunchtime in between the first, Friday evening performances, and the second ones on Saturday afternoon (the latter to be reviewed shortly).
Katie Lowe Wins the 2017 Elizabeth Connell Prize
2017 Elizabeth Connell Prize Winner Announced
KATIE LOWE from England Cheshire born 31 year old English soprano Katie Lowe has won the 4th annual Elizabeth Connell Prize for aspiring Dramatic Sopranos held in Sydney Australia on 16 September. Ms Lowe receives $30,000 and an audition at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London. The Finalists were chosen from live auditions held in London, New York, Zurich, Paris and Melbourne and competed over 3 rounds in Sydney for the prize. Ms Lowe sang the “Immolation Scene” from Wagner’s Götterdämmerung and “Suicidio” from La Gioconda by Ponchiello in the Final Round.
ITINÉRAIRE BAROQUE 2017: TON KOOPMAN TALKS TO COLIN CLARKE
Ton Koopman Talks to Colin Clarke
I met Ton Koopman in his lovely home near Verteillac, France. Koopman’s festival, Itinéraire Baroque, had finished the night before; arriving at the house, there was a palpably convivial atmosphere, with artists featured in the festival relaxing alongside Koopman and his friends and family. The interview itself took place in a lovely, peaceful space away from the hubbub.
A Riveting Kokoschka’s Doll from Sir John Tomlinson and Counterpoise
The Art of Love: Alma Mahler’s Life and Music: Zemlinsky, Alma Mahler, Gustav Mahler, Anton von Webern, D. Matthews. Arranged by David Matthews (‘Erntelied’ co-arranged with Colin Matthews), with linking texts by Barry Millington. Rozanna Madylus (mezzo-soprano). Counterpoise ensemble: Fenella Humphreys (violin), Deborah Calland (trumpet), Kyle Horch (saxophone/clarinet), Iain Farrington (piano).
Kokoschka’s Doll: John Casken (composer), Sir John Tomlinson (bass), Counterpoise ensemble (as above), text by John Casken and Barry Millington. Cheltenham Music Festival, 9.7.2017.