United Kingdom Oxford Lieder Festival 2022 [5] – Bach, Elena Langer, Handel, Vaughan Williams: Anna Dennis (soprano), Nicholas Daniel (oboe), Richard Gowers (harpsichord). Holywell Music Room, Oxford 21.10.2022. (CR)
Curtis Rogers
Marie-Laure Garnier’s enticing Oxford journey through some late Romantic French repertoire
United Kingdom Oxford Lieder Festival 2022 [3] – Fauré, Chausson, Charlotte Sohy: Marie-Laure Garnier (soprano), Angharad Rowlands (mezzo-soprano), Hanson Quartet, Célia Oneto Bensaid, Joseph Cavalli-Price (pianists). Holywell Music Room, Oxford, 19.10.2022. (CR)
The Catch Club at the Oxford Lieder Festival was a delectable and surprising programme
United Kingdom Oxford Lieder Festival 2022 [2] – The Catch Club: Caroline Taylor (soprano), Christopher Purves (baritone), Choir of The Queen’s College, The Friendly Harmonists, Jonathan Byers (cello) Christopher Bucknall (harpsichord) / Owen Rees (conductor). Freud Café Bar, Oxford 17.10.2022. (CR)
A sense of collegiality from Kate Royal and Christine Rice at the Oxford Lieder Festival
United Kingdom Oxford Lieder Festival 2022 [1] – Clara and Robert Schumann, Brahms, Weill: Kate Royal (soprano), Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano), Magnus Walker (tenor), Julius Drake, Eunji Han (pianists). Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, 14.10.2022. (CR)
Instruments of Time and Truth’s bold Aci, Galatea e Polifemo had plenty of human interest
United Kingdom Handel, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo: Soloists, Instruments of Time and Truth / Christopher Bucknall (conductor). Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, 22.9.2022. (CR)
Tantalising sonic and visual atmosphere of Garsington’s The Turn of the Screw lingers intensely in the mind
United Kingdom Garsington Opera 2022 [4] – Britten, The Turn of the Screw: Soloists, Philharmonia Orchestra / Mark Wigglesworth (conductor). Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 15.7.2022. (CR)
New Chamber Opera’s charming recreation of Cimarosa’s appealing Le astuzie femminili
United Kingdom New Chamber Opera – Cimarosa, Le astuzie femminili (Feminine Shrewdness): Soloists, The Band of Instruments / Steven Devine (conductor). New College, Oxford, 29.6.2022. (CR)
John Cox’s Garsington Così focusses on the foibles of human nature and fragility of human relationships
United Kingdom Garsington Opera 2022 [2] – Mozart, Così fan tutte: Soloists, Garsington Opera Chorus and The English Concert / Tobias Ringborg (conductor). Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 2.6.2022. (CR)
