SINCE 1999 A LIVE REVIEW SITE FOR OPERA, BALLET, CONCERTS, BROADCASTS, AND THEATRE
Ex Cathedra Unveils an Exciting Season of Choral Music in Birmingham and Beyond
The Birmingham-based Ex Cathedra is a leading UK choir and Early Music ensemble. It is a unique musical resource, comprising a specialist chamber choir, vocal Consort, period-instrument orchestra and a thriving education programme. Ex Cathedra was founded in 1969 by Jeffrey Skidmore OBE so the ensemble is fast approaching its 50th anniversary. Details of their 2017/18 season have just been announced.
United Kingdom R Strauss, Copland, Rachmaninov: Oliver Janes (clarinet); City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Andrew Gourlay, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 6.4.2017. (JQ)
The Three Choirs Festival 2017: A Preview
The Three Choirs Festival, which was first held in 1715 is probably the oldest music festival in the world; is there another festival that has been in existence for over 300 years? The Festival is held in turn in one of the three cathedral cities of Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester. This year, by rotation, the Festival, which takes place between 22 and 29 July, will be hosted by the city of Worcester, The Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral, Peter Nardone, is Artistic Director of the Festival and he’s devised a wide-ranging programme of events. All the performances mentioned in this preview will take place in Worcester Cathedral unless otherwise stated.
Germany Musikfest Berlin 2016 [9] – Elgar: Andrew Staples (tenor), Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-soprano), Thomas Hampson (baritone), Staatsopernchor, RIAS Kammerchor, Konzertchor und Jugendchor der Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Staatskapelle Berlin/Daniel Barenboim (conductor), Philharmonie, Berlin, 19.9.2016. (JQ)
United Kingdom Mozart, Abrahamsen, Tchaikovsky: Barbara Hannigan (soprano); City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/ Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (conductor). Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 26.8.2016 (JQ)
United Kingdom Three Choirs Festival (15) – Mahler: Hye-Youn Lee (soprano – Magna Peccatrix); Mary Plazas (soprano – Una poenitentium); Jennifer France (soprano – Mater gloriosa); Catherine Wyn-Rogers (mezzo-soprano – Mulier Samaritana); Madeleine Shaw (mezzo-soprano – Mater Aegyptica); Peter Auty (tenor – Doctor Marianus); Gary Griffiths (bass – Pater ecstaticus); Stephan Loges (bass – Pater Profundus); Jonathan Hope (organ); Three Choirs Festival Youth Choir; Three Cathedral Choirs; Three Choirs Festival Chorus; Philharmonia Orchestra / Adrian Partington (conductor). Gloucester Cathedral, 30.7. 2016. (JQ)
United Kingdom Three Choirs Festival (13) – Phibbs, Elgar. Walton, Orff: Ilona Domnich (soprano), Russell Painter (tenor), David Stout (baritone), Gloucester Cathedral Junior Choir/Nia Llewellyn Jones (conductor); Three Choirs Festival Chorus; Philharmonia Orchestra/Adrian Partington (conductor). Gloucester Cathedral, 30.7. 2016. (JQ)
United Kingdom Three Choirs Festival (11) – Rossini: Mary Pope (soprano); Olivia Ray (mezzo-soprano); Mark Wilde (tenor); Timothy Nelson (baritone); Steven Kings & Christopher Allsop (piano); Peter Dyke (harmonium); Three Choirs Festival Youth Choir/Geraint Bowen (conductor), Gloucester Cathedral, 29.7. 2016. (JQ)