Category: Journal
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Beethoven 5 and 7 from Andrew Manze and the NDR Philharmonie
Beethoven isn’t my go-to composer. Never has been. There’s nothing wrong per se about the man’s music. There is melody. There’s drama. In his symphonic works especially the textures in his orchestral writing are highly satisfying. The problem is (or maybe it’s not a problem) I admire the creative achievement in the same way I…
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Surprisingly unhelpful music
I did promise myself that I wouldn’t write about death or grief. I promised myself I wouldn’t be superficial. I would instead be bold, daring and independent. I would challenge convention. I would share something of myself. After all, people respond to passion (even if they don’t realise it), and passion necessarily comes from the…
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How Stephen Hough and the Castalian Quartet touched the soul at Wigmore Hall
Brahms is the cheese. Fact.
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Vox Luminis performance style demonstrates a special kind of leadership
Direction comes from one person in the chorus not a conductor or director in the centre of the stage.
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Four carols to kick off the festive season
Not so much revelling in the headiness of a contrived Dickensian Christmas, more a musical articulation of the way I now see the Christmas story.
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Review: Lambeth Wind Orchestra and saxophonist Rob Burton play Rhapsodies and Fantasias
A demanding programme of unfamiliar and invigorating works for wind orchestra including a cracking show piece for saxophonist Rob Burton.
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Review: Der Freischütz conducted by Laurence Equilbey featuring Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Johanni van Oostrum, and Chiara Skerath
An inventive thought-provoking production with captivating contributions from Johanni van Oostrum, the Insula Orchestra, and one or two illusionists.
