Category: Opinion
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Beethoven 2 & 3 from Norrington and the OAE at the QEH, and the Beach Boys
Exhilarating Norrington. Epic Beethoven. Brilliant.
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Vaughan Williams 5, culture wars, and the language we use to talk about music
The slow movement from Vaughan Williams 5 and the thoughts it provokes.
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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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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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Professional criticism needs to get over itself
If an amateur blogger creates content that compares well to anything a professional writer is churning out, its the delicate classical music writing ecosystem that’s in danger of extinction. There are some in the sector who think that may well be the best outcome.
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Review: Matthew Whiteside’s ‘Entangled’
This may not be what Matthew wants to hear, but Entangled is the perfect soundtrack for the Halloween newbie.
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Review: Opera Holland Park’s Into the Light
If you don’t reach for a tissue in the first thirteen minutes then you’re a cold-hearted bastard.
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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.
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A night at the Gramophone Awards 2019
The Gramophones are the kind of signpost for future discovery that people like me need to fill out our classical music experience.
