SINCE 1999 A LIVE REVIEW SITE FOR OPERA, BALLET, CONCERTS, BROADCASTS, AND THEATRE
United Kingdom Bliss, Venables, Gurney: Andrew Randall (baritone), Eric McElroy (piano), Carducci String Quartet (Matthew Denton & Michelle Fleming [violins], Eoin Schmidt-Martin [viola], Emma Denton [cello]). Ivor Gurney Hall, King’s School, Gloucester, 11.5.2019. (JQ)
United Kingdom Parry: Sarah Fox (soprano), Kathryn Rudge (mezzo-soprano), Toby Spence (tenor), Henry Waddington (bass-baritone), Crouch End Festival Chorus, London Mozart Players / William Vann (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 3.4.2019. (JQ)
2019 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester
In remarks accompanying the pathfinder prospectus for the 2019 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester the Artistic Director, Adrian Partington, commented: ‘Themes and anniversaries aren’t necessarily the best influences on successful programmes.’ I wouldn’t disagree, but even so, it’s surely appropriate that the highly attractive 2019 Festival programme, which has now been launched in full, reflects one or two notable anniversaries. This year the Festival will run from 26 July to 3 August.
United Kingdom Saint Cecilia Singers 70th Anniversary Concert: Saint Cecilia Singers / Jonathan Hope (conductor), Christopher Allsop (organ). Gloucester Cathedral 2.3.2019. (JQ)
United Kingdom Schumann, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky: Alexander Gavrylyuk (piano), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Kazuki Yamada (conductor), Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 20.2.2019. (JQ)
An Introduction to Sir Hubert Parry’s Oratorio Judith
Countless people will have sung the hymn ‘Dear Lord and father of mankind’ without knowing the origin of its fine tune, known as ‘Repton’. And why should they? The tune is taken from Sir Hubert Parry’s oratorio, Judith, a work that has lain in almost total obscurity for decades. Now, however, the complete work is shortly to be heard in the UK for the first time in over 65 years. William Vann is to conduct a performance in London’s Royal Festival Hall on 3 April.
Portugal Rachmaninov, Brahms: Pasquale Iannone (piano), Madeira Classical Orchestra / Dinis Sousa (conductor), Teatro Municipal Baltazar Dias, Funchal, Madeira, 24.11.2018. (JQ)
United Kingdom Ian Venables, Requiem (first performance: sung during the All Souls’ Requiem Eucharist, Gloucester Cathedral): Jonathan Hope (organ), Choir of Gloucester Cathedral / Adrian Partington (conductor), 2.11.2018. (JQ)