GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – November 2019
I need to say a few things about Jessye Norman – gone but never forgotten, her majestic voice for the ages forever enshrined for posterity in countless recordings, her aura somehow immortal. I saw her perform many…
GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – Awards Issue 2019
Reflecting once again on yet another season of Henry Wood Promenade Concerts my thoughts turn to the venue itself – the Royal Albert Hall – loved and loathed in equal measure, the grandest of grand edifices, a…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Heggie ‘Woman: the making of…’ – Lillian Farahani/Maurice Lammerts van Bueren
“Woman the making of…’ Intriguing title. And it takes its cue from Jake Heggie’s very first commission – written in 1995 to original texts by Philip Littell – which was, to borrow a more iconic title, ‘all…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Duruflé Requiem / Debussy Nocturnes – Kožená, Berlin Radio Choir, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Ticciati
For two works so diametrically opposed in feeling, philosophy and belief, these marvellous pieces sit well together. They also appear to chime with Robin Ticciati’s very particular sensibilities as a conductor. And he plainly adores them. So…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Beethoven Symphony No. 3 / Strauss Metamorphosen – Sinfonia Grange au Lac/Salonen
The intriguingly named Sinfonia Grange Au Lac (literally The Barn on the Lake) bows in here under its first mentor and incumbent Esa-Pekka Salonen. A unique custom made orchestra for a custom made venue and festival –…
ANTONIO PAPPANO in conversation with Edward Seckerson
Thursday 30th January 2020 7.30pm Bishopsgate Institute. Join us in the stunning Grade II* listed Great Hall at Bishopsgate Institute as we welcome the acclaimed conductor, pianist and Music Director of The Royal Opera, Antonio Pappano, who…
SIR JOHN TOMLINSON CBE in conversation with Edward Seckerson
Champs Hill Friday 31st January 2020 7.30pm Champs Hill is delighted to be welcoming the great British bass – Sir John Tomlinson, CBE, in Conversation with British music journalist and radio presenter, Edward Seckerson. With excerpts from…
GRAMOPHONE: From Where I Sit – October 2019
It’s always exciting when a significant new voice arrives on the music scene and Decca really pushed the boat out a couple of months back for the debut release of the young Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen. She…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Tchaikovsky: ‘The Tchaikovsky Project’ Complete Symphonies & Piano Concertos – Gerstein, Czech Philharmonic/Bychkov
Now we have the complete portrait, as it were, of Tchaikovsky through the eyes of Semyon Bychkov many of the issues I addressed when reviewing the original releases of the 6th ‘Pathétique’ and Manfred Symphonies are thrown…
GRAMOPHONE Review: Copland: Quiet City / Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 ‘From The New World’ / Ives: ‘Holidays’ Symphony – Solistes Européens Luxembourg/König
It’s a neat idea framing Dvorak’s ubiquitous ‘New World’ with two miniatures of authentic Americana – one rural, one urban – from perhaps her most famous sons: Ives and Copland. But that’s about as far as my…
