United Kingdom Handel: Nicki Kennedy (soprano); Matthew Brook (bass-baritone). Brook Street Band Wigmore Hall, London, 17.7.2016 (CC)
This Week’s Review
A Splendid Boris Godunov at the Proms
United Kingdom Prom 2 – Mussorgsky Boris Godunov (original version, 1869). Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 16.7.2016 (CC)
The Van Kuijk Quartet Excel in Mozart but Disappoint in Smetana
United Kingdom Mozart, Smetana: Van Kuijk Quartet [Nicolas Van Kuijk, Sylvain Favre-Bulle (violin); Grégoire Veccion (viola); François Robin (cello)]. Wigmore Hall, London, 17.5.2016 (CC)
The Doric Quartet Show a Genuine Sense of Dedication
United Kingdom Haydn, Dennehy, Beethoven: Doric Quartet (Alex Redington & Jonathan Stone [violins], Hélène Clément [viola], John Myerscough [cello]), Wigmore Hall, London, 15.7.2016 (CS)
Keyboard Mania Engulfs Cheltenham
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.
Zhang Zuo Saves the Day in Young Artists’ Recital
United Kingdom Handel/Halvorsen, Liszt, Schubert/Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Schwertsik, Brahms: Esther Yoo (violin), Narek Haknazaryan (cello), Zhang Zuo (piano), Cheltenham Music Festival, Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham,14.7.2016. (RJ)
Ex Cathedra’s Visionary Concert in Tewkesbury Abbey
United Kingdom Parry, Weir, Howells, MacMillan: Cheltenham Festival – Ex Cathedra, MacMillan Ensemble/Jeffrey Skidmore, Alexander Mason (organ), Tewkesbury Abbey, 13.7.2016. (JQ)
Bevan, Loges and Kynoch Offer a Sumptious Seasonal Spread
United 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)