United Kingdom Three Choirs Festival [10] – Various composers: Roderick Williams (baritone), Susie Allan (piano), Cheltenham College Theatre, Cheltenham, 1.8.2019. (JQ)
An Engrossing Three Choirs Festival Recital by Roderick Williams and Susie Allan
Cheltenham
2018 Cheltenham Music Festival – 30 June to 15 July
A Star-studded line up at 2018 Cheltenham Music Festival from 30 June to 15 July 2018
The 74th Cheltenham Music Festival brings the very best of classical music to the widest possible audience (30 June – 15 July). A star-studded line-up includes a Festival debut from Maxim Vengerov, András Schiff with the OAE, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Sarah Connolly, James Gilchrist, Mahan Esfahani, Steven Isserlis, Benjamin Grosvenor and The King’s Singers plus Sir Mark Elder and Louise Alder with The Hallé and Martyn Brabbins with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
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.
Bochmann Trio Offer Insights into the String Trio Medium Including a Rarity by Holst
United Kingdom Bach, Schubert, Holst, Beethoven: The Bochmann Trio [Michael Bochmann (violin), Carol Hubel-Allen (viola), David Powell (‘cello)], Thirlestaine Gallery, Cheltenham, 28.10.2016. (RJ)
Rare Performance of Berkeley’s Stabat Mater Combines Austerity with Profundity
United 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)]
Sally Beamish Introduces an Extra Three Deadly Sins
United Kingdom Sally Beamish: Red Note Ensemble [Ruth Morley (flute), Marie Lloyd (clarinet), Jacqueline Shave (violin0, Robert Irvine (cello) Tom Hunter (percussion), Huw Watkins (piano), Crawford Logan (actor), Cheltenham Music Festival, Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham, 16.7.2016. (RJ)
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.
Fidelio Trio Transfigure the Music They Play
United Kingdom Michael Zev Gordon, Erik Satie, Hunter Coblentz, Piers Hellawell, Arnold Schoenberg: Fidelio Trio [Darrah Morgan (violin), Adi Tai (cello), Mary Dullea (piano)], Sinéad Morrissey (poet/reader), Cheltenham Music Festival, Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham, 15.7.2016. (RJ)