Positive Points about Selected Concerts from 2007/08
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BreveEasy long note practice
software? You can download a free version of this product developed by Roger
Swann from here.
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13th July 2008 - 7:30pm - COMA East Midlands - Kieran O'Riordan
The Arts Organisation, Station Street, Nottingham
Roger Swann = horn
COMA East Midlands took advantage of the recently opened building of
"The Arts Organisation" to present this concert which included eight world
premier performances. The venue is the perfect match for COMA's broad range of
musical presentation.
Antony Clare (one of the founder members of the COMA East Midlands)
summed it all up during a conversation after the concert: "I think we captured
the correct atmosphere in every piece". Perhaps special mention should go to
Clare Stewart, composer of "Scottish Andante" which was reputed to be her first
ever composition.
The concert also gave a chance for your reviewer to take the solo horn
part in Hildegard Westerkamp's Fantasie for Horns II - and gave the whole
ensemble a focus for the work they have been doing all year on the classic
graphical score "Treatise" by Cornelius Cardew.
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12th July 2008 - 7:30pm - The Knighton Chamber Orchestra - Paul Jenkins
- Eleanor Wilkinson (violin)
St Dionysius Church, Market Harborough, Leicestershire
The Knighton Chamber Orchestra look great in their coloured tops and
smart waistcoats - immediately creating a less stuffy atmosphere than that
associated with diner jackets and black tie. The free glass of wine was much
appreciated too.
St Dionysius church has an attractive accoustic (certainly for those
seated towards the front). Eleanor Wilkinson's fiddle had a strong but mellow
tone as soloist in Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 2 in D K211.
Eleanor Wilkinson then went on to guest lead in Beethoven's Second
Symphony - and it was very obvious what a strong front desk the orchestra had
in her and Karen Silverwood.
It is impossible to be positive about the second half's performance of
Walton's Facade. The band (hidden behind screens) seemed to pause between some
movements to share private jokes - and at times the narrator seemed to be
joining in. Giggles were distinctly audible and quips with (or at) the audience
did nothing to help. Such behaviour suggests a lack of respect for the
composer's work and is insulting to the audience who have paid good money for
tickets. Two members of the audience left two thirds of the way through the
piece.
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11th July 2008 - 7:30pm - The Rake's Progress
The usual Royal Opera House standards of technical production were on
show with imaginative scene changes matched by lighting and video effects of
the highest quality.
Thomas Ades directed the accomplished orchestra in a very rhythmically
tight performance of Stravinsky's compact score and he achieved a balance which
allowed all singers to get the libretto (W H Auden / Chester Kallman) across
with ease (a rare achievement in opera!).
Thomas Ades directed the accomplished orchestra in a very rhythmically
tight performance of Stravinsky's compact score and he achieved a balance which
allowed all singers to get the libretto across with ease (a rare achievement in
opera!).
Sally Mathews' presentation of Anne Trulove had both the fagility and
strength of the character and she sang the arias (with demanding vocal range)
with matching delicacy and determination.
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5th July 2008 - 7:30pm - Leicester-Shire (sic) Arts in Education 60
Years of Music Making Gala Concert
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Celebrating 60 years since Eric Pinkett's creation of the
Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra, this event was always going to be a
happy affair. As ever, all the young performers played their hearts out.
The two violin soloists in Ashokan Farewell (Annabel Fisher and Liggy
Serwood (leaders of the Junior Strings and Intermediate Orchestra respectively)
sounded completely unphased by the large and attentive deMontfort Hall
audience. They were perfect.
Andrew Bound conducting the Training Orchestra achieved the most
musically satisfying performance of the evening with some tight and
accomplished playing in excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
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22nd June 2008 - 11:00am - The
Coull Quartet - Mark Rowan-Hull (Artist)
Richard Attenborough Center, University of Leicester
An enterprising project testing the audience reaction to the concept of
synesthesia. Anyone present expecting a simple concert would have been driven
to distraction by Mark Rowan-Hull's live 'response' to the music. Those with
curious disposition were treated to a thought provoking two hours of excellent
music (the Coul Quartet capturing the balance between the elegant happy moments
and the angst in Shubert's Quartett-Satz D703, for example) followed by an
invaluable discussion chaired by Jamie Ward for the University of Sussex.
During Shostakovich's Quartet No 8 (op 110) there was a real good build
up of tension care of the second violin and viola accompaniament that caught
the ear.....
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21st June 2008 - 7:30pm - University of Leicester Sinfonia - Michael
Sackin - Amanda Lake (violin) - Arun Menon (viola)
Fraser Noble Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
The two soloists kept good control of intonation throughout Mozart's
Sinonia Concertante.
Full marks to the trumpet section for dynamic contrast at the end of
the slow movement of Mozart's Symphony No 36 (Linz) K425.
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16th June 2008 - 6:00pm - The Rutland Sinfonia - Paul Hilliam -
Jenny Saunders (Soprano)
Oakham Castle Grounds, Oakham, Rutland
Roger Swann = horn
The first time Oakham Festival has presented an outdoors proms event,
this evening's event saw a good number of people braving a dry but not exactly
warm June evening to enjoy all the usual union flag waving and Rule Britannia
stuff. Much of the orchestral playing was pretty good given all the
difficulties of playing in a tent - the trumpet section were on good form -
clearly enjoying some of the film score arrangements.
Jenny Saunders was rather good at seeming to enjoy all the noise going
on around her singing and her Union Jack style top was a significant added
bonus for all!
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12th June 2008 - 7:30pm - ISIS
Ensemble - Jacques Cohen - Sarah Williamson (clarinet).
St James' Church, Piccadilly, London.
St James' Church has a very cavernous echo which meant that the two
pieces that were the most effective were Sibelius' Romance (with much unison
upper string writing sounding healthily romantic) and Grieg's Two Elegiac
Melodies (with much pianissimo writing which carried with clarity).
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11th June 2008 - 7:30pm - Powder Her Face
The Linbury Studio, The Royal
Opera House, Covent Garden, London.
A fascinating production (Carlos Wagner) making good use of lighting
(Paul Keogan) and some neat moments of choreography (Tom Baert) which perfactly
matched nuances in the music. The idea of using a oversized powder compact for
the Duchess' "safe zone" was a masterstroke.
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8th June 2008 - 7:30pm - The Cantus Choir - Alwyn Pollard - Tom Bates
(Baritone) - David Lovell Brown (Organ + Piano)
St Mary's Church, Ketton, Rutland
This was the final concert of the weekends two concerts making up the
"Quintessentially English" Festival of Music at Ketton Church. Your reviewer
was seen to be enjoying a smooth glass of Casillero de Diablo 2006 Cabernet
Sauvignon from Chile during the interval. An idyllic way to spend a Sunday
evening.....
The wide range of choral music ably presented by the Cantus Choir (good
dynamics - full marks to Alwyn Pollard - and a good strong tenor section)
included a piece by Michael Hale - an 18 year old student from Oakham School.
This young composer has a good grasp of musical shape and harmonic progression
as well as a knowledgable understanding of how to write for SATB choirs. His
piece held it's own amongst the many great English composers also
represented.
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7th June 2008 - 7:30pm - The Cantus Ensemble - Barry Collett - Isabelle
Flory (violin) - Margaret Fingerhut (piano)
St Mary's Church, Ketton, Rutland
Roger Swann = horn
This was the first of the weekends two concerts making up the
"Quintessentially English" Festival of Music at Ketton Church. Both concerts
were accompanied by bird song, clearly audible within the building as a
constant (happy) reminder of the warm June evenings outside.
A very good sized audience enjoyed the top class playing of the two
guest soloists. Isabelle Flory impressed as ever - her 'Lark Ascending' always
veered towards a tone poem of a fluttering bird in flight, rather than falling
into the trap of wallowing sacharine sentimentality. Thanks to Barry Collett's
continued authority on Elgar and his works she was also able to demonstrate her
virtuosity in two lively Polonaises left by Elgar as accurate but uncompleted
sketches. This was believed to be only the second performance of these
pieces.
Marguret Fingerhut chose to play John Ireland's Columbine as here solo
contribution to the theme of English Composers - her playing is always
characterised by a lightness of phrasing and a beguiling modesty of
presentation and this was especially appropriate in this evenings repetoire. It
was good to hear the Concertino for Piano and Strings by Walter Leigh as well
as the more frequently performed Eclogue for Piano and Strings by Gerald Finzi
( A regular on Classic FM's play list - so a fellow audience member informed me
(unprompted) )
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Town theatre, Jablonec nad Nisou, The Czech Republic
Roger Swann = horn
Good audience reaction ( 2 encores ) in this attractive theatre. Pavel
Kotla achieved a lovely pianissimo at the end of the second movement of Grieg's
Peer Gynt suite. This was a really enjoyable theatre to play in, both
aesthetically and acoustically - with the later allowing details of the
performance to be clearly audible to performers and audience alike - without
sounding too dead.
The event made a fitting end to the all too short LSO tour of Poland
and The Czech Republic
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28th May 2008 - 7:00pm - The Marriage of Figaro -
Narodni Divaldlo Opera - Jan
Chalupckey
Estates Theatre, Prague, The Czech Republic
It's close to a perfect evening to enjoy Mozart's Marriage of Figaro in
the theatre where is Don Giovanni was given it's premier in 29th October
1787
Jan Chalupckey is an example of economic conducting. Minimal gestures
were used to give queues to those on stage and to keep the orchestra playing
with accuracy and finess.
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Theatre Zdrojowy, Jablonec nad Nisou, Kudowa, Poland
Roger Swann = horn
Unusually your reviewer finds it impossible to gauge the quality of
this concert. The theatre was fairly conventional in layout and pleasingly
decorated within - but it had a fiendish acoustic where it was exceedingly
difficult to hear other members of the orchestra (even those physically quite
close to you). Yet members of the audience indicated that the balance sounded
good in the auditorium and reported that conversations between players (about
the music of course) during the rehearsals could be heard word-for-word on the
back row of the stalls.
One felt all one could do was to play as close to the conductors beat
as possible and cling on to any sense of pitch you could locate at all. A good
sized audience seemed to enjoy the music - we received enthusiastic
applause.
Towards the back of the stage the sound of running water was
prominently audible whenever someone - somewhere in the building - flushed a
toilet. A novel feature for any concert venue !
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22nd May 2008 - 7:30pm - The
Sixteen - Harry Christophers
St James the Greater Church, Leicester
The perfect place to hear this first class choir. The quality of
singing was spectacularly awesome. Harry Christophers clear enthusiasm for the
music of the Tudor period (1500 to 1600 AD) was very obvious in this
performance of music by Robert Parsons, Christopher Tye and Robert White. Great
long lines of complex soaring harmony seemed to stretch for ever and then
inevitably, yet unexpectedly, end up in a cadence that seemed both suprising
and yet perfectly matched.
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17th May 2008 - 7:30pm -
Helix Ensemble - David Murphy
All Saints with Holy Trinity Church, Loughborough, Leics
Roger Swann = horn
David Murphy presented a carefully structured programme (Mozart,
Corelli, Salieri, Tippett and Beethoven) including informative introductions to
each piece.
The Ensemble played with intensity and concentration in Tippett's
Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli.
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15th May 2008 - 7:30pm - Secondary Cause of Death - Main Street Theatre
Company
Great Glen Village Hall, Leics
Peter Gordon's slightly dated comedy proved an amusing vehicle for
various talented actors and actresses to draw mirth from their local audience.
Kevin Gilbert rose well to the challenge of having to speak with an accent
belonging to a german gentleman trying to impersonate a polish gentleman trying
to speak English. If you think that's confusing you would have had no chance
with the plot !
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11th May 2008 - 7:30pm - The Bardi
Symphony Orchestra - Claus Efland - Maximilliano Martin (Clarinet)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
This concert was clear proof of the Bardi Orchestra's continued
development under the firm direction of Claus Efland. From the opening bars of
the Mozart Clarinet concerto the strings sounded as polished and sophisticated
as many of this countries professional ensembles. Encouraged by the beatifully
controlled clarinet playing of Maximilliano Martin there were some moments of
breathtaking pianissimo playing in the slow movement.
Maximilliano Martin acknowledged the audiences recognition of his
talent with a short virtuosic encore, one of the three pieces for unaccompanied
clarinet by Stravinsky. This had an especially witty ending (one of the most
interrupted cadenzes possible?)
Further pleasurable evidence of the quality of the string sound was the
given by their complete change of character to suit the cathedral like space of
Bruckner's Seventh Symphony. Claus Effland (conducting without a score
throughout the concert) had the complete canvass of this magnificent work clear
in his mind from the first downbeat and the orchestra played their hearts out
throughout.
The guest wagner tuba section gave some excellent ominous tones -
somehow their names were ommitted from the concert programme: Robert Parker,
Stuart Bower, Simon Locke, Peter Dyson.
Team Photo : From top left, clockwise: Pete Dyson, Simon Locke, Stuart
Bower, Rob Parker, Mark Penny, Julian Haslam , Roger Swann (notice the hair
cut), Roz Saunders.
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3rd May 2008 - 7:30pm - University of Leicester Sinfonia - University
of Leicester Choral Society - Michael Sackin
Fraser Noble Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
Peter Owen's Adagio for Orchestra (written in 2007) made a good concert
opener - building to two great climaxes by steadily adding layers of a simple
motif. Sensitive Violin and Cello solos by Adrian Hack and John Lewis greatly
contributed to the effect.
The remainder of the concert was given to the music of Brahms with the
University of Leicester Choral Society joining the orchestra for his Op 54 Song
of Destiny and his Op 82 Lament (Nanie).
Ending with Brahm's Second Symphony with many subtle nuances enjoyed by
the conductor and a joyful rombustious ending enjoyed by all.
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- St Catharine's Church, Houghton on the Hill, Leics
Launching straight into Prokofiev's Quartet No.1 requires a great deal
of confidence in both the playing of the group and the emotional strength of
the audience. The group seemed completely unphased by playing this piece "from
cold" and the spikey notes in the middle movement made your reviewer feel that
he had been involuntarily rolling in a field of barbed wire. Ending with a very
intense slow movment it did feel a rather bruising experience for the audience
all rouund. Phew !
It was with some relief therefore to follow this with Mozart's K589 -
with Nicholas Roberts sounding very graceful on the 'cello part (probably
written for the King of Prussia to play).
The quality of a quartet can be judged on the integration between pairs
of players as and when the musical lines coincide. The Coull quartet score well
on this count (as on all others). Especially striking was the accuarate
combination of Gustav Clarkson's rather dark sombre toned viola sound with each
of his three collegues in turn.
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26th April 2008 - 7:30pm -
The Leicester Symphony
Orchestra - Pavel Kotla - Charles Siem (violin)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
The second half of the concert came "alive" with Elgar's Enigma
Variations. There was some tidy percussion (eg especially sensitive pianissimo
clash cymbal playing from Barry Collett) throughout.
Both Ann-Marie Shaw (principal viola) and Pat Dobson (pincipal 'cello)
deserved the recognition of the quality of the their solo playing given by the
conductor during the audience's applause.
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22nd April 2008 - 7:30pm - Leicester Literature and Philosophical
Society AGM - Leicestershire Co-operative Male Voice Choir - Paul Jenkins -
Lydia Hind (Piano / Vocal) - The Unique-horns
Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, New Walk, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
A wide range of music presented to members of Leicester Literature and
Philosophical Society (and friends). Leicestershire Co-operative Male Voice
Choir sounded at their best in the sentimental numbers - ably conducted by Paul
Jenkins.
Lydia Hind impressed with her fluent playing in Handel's Fugue no.1 in
G minor, HWV 605.
The Unique-horns had the honour of accompanying the choir in some
numbers including a rousing rendition of Delilah as a finale.
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15th April 2008 - 7:30pm -The Minotaur - Royal Opera - Antonio
Pappano
There's always an additional buzz about being at the World Premier of
an opera, particularly when it's the first performance of a large work by
Harrison Birtwistle.
The buzz was not disappointing! After a period of gentle character
building this work builds into a dramatic and often violent (lots of blood!)
piece - whilst also capturing the loneliness of the Minotaur - not a character
you'd expect to be feeling sympathy for at the end of the first half.
The production held attention throughout (Director Stephen Langridge,
Designs Alison Chitty, Lighting Paul Pyant) and the three title roles were all
faultless: Ariadne Christine Rice, Theseus Johan Reuter, The Minotaur John
Tomlinson [donning an foreboding bull head mask throughout].
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8th April 2008 - 7:30pm - The
Philharmonia Orchestra - Alexander Briger - Solveig Kringelborn (Sop)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Starting with a rousing performance of Strauss' Don Juan (horns, led by
Tim Jackson sounded great!) Alexander Briger laid his cards on the table: he
likes to keep tempos brisk and the feeling of moving forward is never far from
his mind.
Solveig Kringelborn allowed Strauss' Four Last Songs to sound sublime
(a collegue of mine remarked that the feeling of melancholy was striking
throughout) and she wasn't frightened to take the dynamic down where
appropriate. In the orchestra, the pianissimo piccolo trills were beautifully
executed.
By swopping to period trumpets the quality of the strings (superb
playing throughout) was allowed to shine in Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. Again
this was not a slow performance - The scherzo, particularly, was taken at a
fair pace, but the band were up to it - so why not !
It's good to be able to report that the audience was near capacity for
this excellent concert.
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17th March 2008 - 8:00pm - Punch and Judy - Music Theatre Wales
The Linbury Studio, The Royal
Opera House, Covent Garden, London.
Birtwistle's first opera given an appropriately primary colour based
production by Michael McCarthy. The singing of both title roles (Punch (Gwion
Thomas) and Judy (Carol Rowlands)) captured the macabre cruelty of the
piece.
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15th March 2008 - 7:45pm -Houghton Music Club Spring Concert
The Village Hall, Houghton on the Hill, Leics
Roger Swann = horn
The hall was filled to capacity - was one of the draws Jake Phillips'
performance of two movements from Bruch's Violin Concerto accompanied by The
Houghton Orchestra, in fine form under the baton of Lance Atter?
The Houghton Singers (director Helen Noble) got a relaxed feel and good
intonation in an arrangement of the spiritual "Were you there"
Extra special guest soloist Karen Herringshaw (flute) played Bach's
Sonata BWV1035 with poise and grace. Your reviewer remembers one of his first
roles at Houghton Music Club was to run a recorder group for a set of young
girls (he (perhaps rightly) wouldn't be allowed these days !) of which Karen
was one. Good to see she hasn't picked up any bad habits from those times
!
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8th March 2008 - 7:30pm - The Bardi
Symphony Orchestra - Jacques Cohen - Anthony Goldstone (piano)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
Anthony Goldstone proved a charming gentleman to work with (he was very
generous in his praise of the orchestra) and produced a polished, accurate and
sophisticated performance of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a theme of Paganni.
The accurate and reliable conducting of Jacques Cohen allowed the
orchestra to relax during Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 6 (Pathetique). He coaxed
an excellent exposed opening from the double bass section and some genuine
angst during the potent final movement.
The viola section had a lot to do in this concert and sounded great
throughout.
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2nd March 2008 - 7:00pm - The Arpeggione Quartet
St Mary's Church, Ketton, Rutland
Another coup by Alwyn Pollard and his collegues at St Mary's Church in
persuading this quartet of the highest quality to visit Rutland.
Outstanding playing throughout, the skill and sensitivity of the 2nd
violin (Nicolas Risler) always aware of bringing out a musical line where
appropriate and then instantly swopping to a style that completely (and
completely unobtrusively) matched the virtuosic playing of 1st violin Isabelle
Flory, is worthy of special mention.
The disconcerting opening of Beethoven's Quartet No 9 (op 59 no 3),
played without vibrato but with perfect intonation was strking, as was the
furious fugue that follows at the start of the finale.
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1st March 2008 - 7:30pm - The Rutland Sinfonia - Paul Hilliam - Roger
Swann (horn)
Oakham School Chapel, Rutland
Roger Swann = horn
It would not be appropriate to comment on the quality (or otherwise) of
the horn soloist but it is an appropriate point to acknowledge the pleasure of
working with the orchestra on Mozart's Third Horn Concerto K447. The many
friends and collegues who turned up to support the event is also genuinely
appreciated.
The performance of Dvorak's sixth symphony in the second half of the
concert received deserved applaus, in particular the rustic character of the
scherzo was well captured.
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16th Feb 2008 - 7:30pm -
The Leicester Symphony
Orchestra - Rainer Hersch - Susan Gilmour Bailey (soprano)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
A most amusing evening under the eccentric control Rainer Hersch.
Amongst the many humorous hightlights were "Where's the Justice in That" and
Susan Gilmour Bailey's virtuosic gargling.
The finale was a witty version of the Blue Danube which, perhaps, other
local orchestras when doing "New Years Day" style concerts could consider
programming !
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9th Feb 2008 - 7:30pm - University of Leicester Sinfonia - Michael
Sackin - Alan Thomas (guitar)
Fraser Nobel Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
The world premier of Alan Thomas' Rhapsody on a Spanish Theme for Solo
Guitar and Orchestra proved to be very popular with both the players and
audience alike. It is always fascinating and often revealing to work on a piece
in the presence of the composer - and even more so with the composer taking the
active role of soloist. Alan Thomas indicated that he set out to write a piece
based on the powerful romantic style of composers such as Rachmaninov and it is
a tribute to his ability as a musician that he was completely successful in his
aim.
The resulting work was full of swirling luscious harmonies underpinning
broad melodies. It also seemed to include a solo guitar part of great technical
difficulty with which Alan Thomas sailed through with consumate ease. Certainly
worthy of further performances.....
It was also most refreshing to see the soloist join the audience for
the second half of the concert, which included a performance of another rarity:
Franz Berwald's Symphony No 3 in C Major (Sinfonie Singuliere).
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de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
Starting off with the angst ridden (and technically challenging)
Symphony No. 6 by Vaughan Williams (who died fifty years ago) Andrew
Constantine chose to run this without a break straight into the same composers
"The Lark Ascending" . Audience reaction to this was suprisingly varied but
surely this was an excellent way of soothing away the anguish resulting from
the unsettled symphonic Epilog? particularly with a performance of such
restraint and delecacy as was given by the orchestra's leader, Adam
Summerhayes. One felt like a "twitcher" rounding a bend to unexpectedly run
across a sky-lark and then appreciatively evesdrop on its graceful arial
meanderings.
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12th Jan 2008 - 7:00pm - Cliff Hutt Memorial Concert - MD Alan
Hutt
St Mary's Church, Welford, Northants
Roger Swann = horn
A full house of Cliff's family and many many friends from near and afar
enjoyed this tribute to a man who played a prominent part in the lives of so
many Leicestershire musicians.
Alan Hutt conducted many of his compositions and arrangements -
including the first movement from his Symphony in D minor and his particularly
effective "The King who Loved Music" (your reviewer recalls this always proving
popular with the young audiences at the many "Childrens Concerts" that Cliff
used to be involved in).
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16th Dec 2007 - 7:45pm - Four Magnificats and Two Fantasias - Derby
Cathedral Choir - Heart of England Orchestra - Peter Gould
Derby Cathedral, Derby
Roger Swann = horn
An enjoyable Christmas event with somewhat more intellectural contant
than a common carol concert.
The two most original moments were the Choirs singing of the legally
required health and safety notices and Peter Gould's own effective
transcription for strings of Stanford's G major Magnificat (Op 81).
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9th Dec 2007 - 3:00pm - Parsifal - Royal Opera - Bernard Haitink
Wagner's sublime masterpiece in the hands of the master of pace and
structure, Bernard Haitink exceeded all expectations.
All the main characters were in good voice: John Tomlinson (Gurnemanz),
Petra Lang (Kundry) and Falk Strukmann (Amfortas) with Willard White taking the
sinister role of Klingsor.
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8th Dec 2007 - 7:30pm - Houghton Music Club Christmas Mix
Village Hall, Houghton on the Hill
An eclectic mix of the Rutland Morris men - tight dancing and a very
amusing interpretation of a traditional Mummers Play - and the barn dance band
Wysiwyg - who provided a tasteful volume level (allowing the accoustic
instruments their own voices) for the "dancing". Good fun for Christmas.
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5th Dec 2007 - 7:30pm - Knighton Chamber Orchestra - Paul Jenkins -
Karen Silverwood (violin) - Tessa Greenhalgh (soprano) - Robert Calow
(clarinet) - Francois Salignat (piano)
Fraser Nobel Hall, Leicester
The KCO sounded excellent in the supportive accoustic of the Fraser
Nobel Hall, with Karen Silverwood's "Lark Ascending" soaring with technical
assurance over some equally soaring harmony in the lower strings.
The hightlight of the concert was Frank La Rocca's Veni Sancte Spritus
- a real coup for the KCO to be giving the piece it's European Premier. Very
atmospheric throughout with some effective echos between the solo voice and the
clarinet (Robert Calow sounding particularly ominous and eerie).
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26th Nov 2007 - 7:30pm - The Turn of the Screw -
English National Opera
The Coliseum, London.
Benjamin Britten's opera based on Henry James' novel of the same name
(adapted by Myfanwy Piper) makes for a disturbing evening, especially in this
production by David McVicar with consistently spooky lighting by Adam
Silverman. The slowly but steadily revealed characters of the major players
kept your reviewers attention - with genuine shivers running up the spine at
one point.
Both singers playing the children were outstanding (George Longworth
and Nazan Fikret) as was the pivotal role of the Governess (Rebecca Evans). One
came away in awe of Britten's orchestration for which credit must be shared by
the thirteen ENO players and conductor Gary Walker.
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24th Nov 2007 - 7:30pm - The Bardi
Symphony Orchestra - Claus Efland - Andrew Kirk (Organ)
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
A concert to celebrate the centenary of the British Red Cross in
Leicestershire and Rutland provided an opportunity to programme lots of "good
tunes". Particularly noteworthy was Claus Eflands stylish (without being showy)
interpretations of the music from the vienesse waltz era (Strauss' Die
Fleidrmaus Overture and Lehar's Gold and Silver Waltz).
The enthusiastic response from the large audience meant that the band
were entirely justified in performing Jacob Gade's Jealousy Tango as an
encore.
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8th Nov 07 - Nick Hill (flugal / trumpet), Josh Kemp (sax), Nick Page
(guitar), Mike Harris (bass)
Jazz at the Cricketers - The Cricketers Pub, Cambridge
Pleasing interaction between Nick Hill and Josh Kemp backed up by some
fluent walking bass from Mike Harris. The Cricketers keeps their beer well too.
A recommended evening out!
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26th Oct 07, 28th Oct 07, 31st Oct 07, 2nd Nov 07 - Various Times -
Wagner Ring Cycle - Royal Opera - Antonio Pappano
Your reviewer's first ever ring cycle (at least heard in one
concentrated period) ; the impact of Wagner's vast work definitely benifits
from experiencing all four operas in close succession.
The orchestra played with to the highest standards throughout - I quote
one of my fellow audience members (Eddie Wearing) speaking after Das Rheingold
"The Orchestra must be the finest in London". The perfect fifth in the opening
bars of Das Rheingold was literally perfect.
Two bass roles were outstanding: Stephen Milling as Hunding (Die
Walkure) and Kurt Rydl who made a fearsomely evil Hagen (Gotterdammerung).
At the conclusion of Gotterdammerung as well as all the usual curtain
calls, Antonio Pappano brought the whole orchestra on stage to acknowledge the
applause. Never has such an unusual gesture been more appropriate.
An unexpected bonus was the pleasure of enjoying opera with the same
audience members in adjacent seats each evening. Over the period of the four
operas the strangers became aquaintances and (who knows?) even
friends.....
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7th Oct 2007 - 7:30pm - Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra - John
Scott
Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
This was a really special evening, with the NPO accompanying a
screening of the 1922 film of Robin Hood (starring Douglas Fairbanks as our
lincoln green (but black and white) hero. The music, specially written for the
occassion, was conducted by the composer who endeared himself to all with his
gentle speaches prior to each half.
The music itself was straight out of the holywood block buster mould -
lots of horn and brass fanfares, gentle romantic melodies in the woodwind and
some stirring string tunes. The performance of all sections of the NPO was very
impressive.
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6th Oct 2007 - 7:30pm - University of Leicester Sinfonia - Harborough
Millenium Chorus - Michael Sackin - David Johnson - Katy Dent (sop), Denise
Fabb (alto), Philip Leech (ten), Robert Clarke (bass)
Robet Smythe School, Market Harborough, Leics
Roger Swann = horn
Michael Sackin directed a really exciting performance of Vorisek's
Symphony in D. This rarely performed work includes a particularly attractive
slow movement and a very vivacious scherzo which the University of Leicester
played with great gusto. The piece was preceded by an impassioned plea by
Michael Sackin for greater recognition of the qualities of Voriseks
output.
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30th Sept 2007 - 7:30pm - The Bardi
Symphony Orchestra - Claus Efland - Helen Dix (sop), Louise Poole (mez),
Stephen Anthony Brown (ten), Pauls Putnins (bass).
de Montfort Hall, Leicester
Roger Swann = horn
It was great to present Ligeti's Lontano to the Leicester Audience.
Claus Efland had a real handle on how to interpret this complex work and the
orchestra did a more than reasonable job at negotiating the difficulties of the
wide ranges of pitches and dynamics present in the score. The clarinets ended
the work with a perfectly executed morendo and Claus had the audience held in
silence for a good number of seconds after the piece had finally died
away.
Performing the Verdi Requiem with a choir of 230 or so singers made for
an exciting second half too.....
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22nd Sept 2007 - 7:30pm -
Helix Ensemble - Roger Coull
Loughborough Endowed Schools, Music School, Loughborough, Leics
Roger Swann = horn
The Helix Ensemble were well received in this new venue with all items
of the varied programme receiving enthusiastic applause. Sarah Cresswell's
fiddle solo in Bartok's Romanian Folk Dances was among the many noteworthy
moments and Roger Coull clearly enjoyed the chance to give Allan Bevan's "To
Morning" another outing.
A planned short interval meant that the ensemble members were able to
enjoy a glass of wine with the audience immediately after the event - it was
interesting and flattering to receive positive feedback from various
attendees.
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18th Sept 2007 - 7:30pm -
Philharmonia Orchestra -
Christopher Von Dohnanyi - Yefim Bronfman (piano)
De Montfort Hall, Leicester
The stars tonight were the world class string section of the
Philharmonia including lyrical solos from David Cohen ('cello - slow movement
of Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, Op 83) and guest leader Radoslaw Szulc (violin
- Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben, Op 40)
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16th Sept 2007 - 8:00pm - Robert Parker + Stuart Bower (horns) +
Strings.
The Quire, Southwell Minster, Southwell, Nottinghamshire
Some fine horn playing from both musicians was matched by the string
quartet of Trevor Booth, Andrew Chadwick, Joy Bower and Margaret Chadwick,
sounding well balanced in the generous accoustic of the Minster (at least to
audience members seated close to the ensemble). Beethovens Sextet includes some
tricky appegios for the second horn which Stuart Bower sailed through with
impressive agility.
Trevor Booth was an authoritve leader and played with accuracy and
delicacy throughout.
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11th Sept 2007 - 7:45pm - COMA East Midlands - Kieran O'Riordan
United Reformed Church, Coldwell St, Wirksworth
Roger Swann = horn
COMA East Midlands performed an evening concert as part of the
enterprising Wirksworth Festival.
A good sized audience enjoyed the characteristically wide range of
styles represented in a COMA EastMidlands concert and gave the ensemble a
genuine standing ovation.
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