ACCOMPANIST OR PARTNER? PIANIST SUSIE ALLAN IN CONVERSATION WITH JOHN QUINN

Susie Allan talks to John Quinn

Susie Allan (c) Bill Wyatt

A little while ago I read two online reviews of the same Lieder recital. The singer and pianist involved were both highly distinguished musicians in their own right and, in addition, have worked together in recital quite frequently in the past. Both reviews were written by experienced and knowledgeable reviewers but there was a significant difference between them. One, admittedly the longer of the two, commentated on both the singer and the pianist in almost equal measure. The other addressed the work and the performance of the singer but the contribution of the pianist was covered in a final short paragraph which consisted of just two sentences.

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CBSO’s Mahler Eighth Symphony takes Birmingham by storm

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mahler: Soloists, CBSO Chorus, CBSO Youth Chorus, CBSO Children’s Chorus, University of Birmingham Voices, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (conductor). Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 18.1.2020. (JQ)

CBSO’s ‘Symphony of a Thousand’ (c) Andrew Fox

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A memorable account of Der Rosenkavalier at the Met

United StatesUnited States R. Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier: Soloists, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Chorus (chorus master: Donald Palumbo), Metropolitan Opera Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 23.12.2019. (JQ)

Camilla Nylund (Marschallin) and Magdalena Kožená (Octavian)
(c) Karen Almond/Met Opera

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Gripping Britten and Tippett performances inaugurate the CBSO’s new season

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Britten, Tippett. Talise Trevigne (soprano), Dame Felicity Palmer (mezzo-soprano), Joshua Stewart (tenor), Brindley Sherratt (bass), CBSO Chorus; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (conductor), Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 26.9.2019. (JQ)

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla conducting the CBSO (c) Benjamin Ealovega

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A Blazing Beethoven Ninth Ends the Three Choirs Festival Triumphantly

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Three Choirs Festival [14] – David Matthews, Holst, Beethoven: Ilona Domnich (soprano), Catherine Wyn-Rogers (alto), Andrew Staples (tenor), David Stout (baritone). Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra / Adrian Partington (conductor). Gloucester Cathedral, 3.8.2019. (JQ)

Ilona Domnich (soprano) and Adrian Partington (conductor) (c) Michael Whitefoot

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It’s ‘Anchors Aweigh!’ at the Penultimate Three Choirs Festival Evening

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Three Choirs Festival [13] – Stanford, Vaughan Williams: Katherine Broderick (soprano), Roderick Williams (baritone), Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra / Geraint Bowen (conductor). Gloucester Cathedral, 2.8.2019. (JQ)

A Sea Symphony at the Three Choirs Festival (c) Michael Whitefoot

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