Clik here to view.
Osborne, BBC Philharmonic, Bihlmaier, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review -...
Another Bruckner symphony for the 200th anniversary yearJust a few days after the Hallé’s Bruckner 8, the BBC Philharmonic weighed in with his Seventh Symphony for its Manchester audience. We’re all...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Gillam, Hallé, Poska, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - an experience of...
★★★★ GILLAM, HALLE. POSKA, MANCHESTER Sensitive shaping from a consummate EstonianSensitive shaping from a consummate EstonianThere was a common factor in the superficially disparate elements of this...
View ArticleClik here to view.
La scala di seta, RNCM review - going heavy on the absinthe?
Rossini’s one-acter helps young performers find their talents to amuseThe overture to Rossini’sLa scala di seta is a frequent and familiar concert piece – not so the opera itself.
View ArticleClik here to view.
Cargill, Kantos Chamber Choir, Manchester Camerata, Menezes, Stoller Hall,...
★★★ CARGILL, KANTOS CHAMBER CHOIR, MANCHESTER CAMERATA, MENEZES, STOLLER HALL, MANCHESTER Choral-orchestral collaboration is set for great thingsChoral-orchestral collaboration is set for great...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Marwood, Power, Watkins, Hallé, Adès, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review -...
Premiere of a mesmeric piece from composer Oliver LeithFor the second big concert of his “residency” with the Hallé this season, Thomas Adès chose one major piece of his own, rather than a set of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Simon Boccanegra, Hallé, Elder, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review -...
★★★★★ SIMON BOCCANEGRA, HALLE, ELDER, MANCHESTER Thrilling, magnificent VerdiVerdi’s original version of the opera brought to exciting lifeIf ever more evidence were needed of Sir Mark Elder’s untiring...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Music Reissues Weekly: Warsaw - Middlesbrough 14th September 1977, Joy...
Thrilling live document of one of Britain’s greatest bandsEdinburgh’s Rezillos were booked to play Middlesbrough’s Rock Garden on Wednesday 14 September 1977. “I Can’t Stand my Baby,” their debut...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hallé, Wong, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - meeting a musical...
Drama and emotional power from a new principal conductorKahchun Wong, the Hallé’s principal conductor from the coming autumn season, presided in the Bridgewater Hall for the first time yesterday since...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sansara, Manchester Collective, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - sense...
★★★★★ SANSARA, MANCHESTER COLLECTIVE, BRIDGEWATER HALL, MANCHESTER Three world premieres all respond to Feldman’s 'Rothko Chapel'Three world premieres all respond to Feldman’s 'Rothko Chapel'Manchester...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Album: Barry Adamson - Cut to Black
The coolest Mancunian returns with a lesson in styleAlways looking dapper and always sounding cool, Barry Adamson is a man who nevertheless seems to be perpetually of another time. Giving off the vibes...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bavouzet, Manchester Camerata, Takács-Nagy, Stoller Hall, Manchester review -...
Approaching the final goal of ‘Mozart, made in Manchester’There’s a sense of cheerful abandon about Manchester Camerata’s Mozart concerts with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Gábor Takács-Nagy that is hard to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hough, Hallé, Elder, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - affection and...
Sir Stephen Hough’s piano concerto receives its European premiereIt’s probably a bit early to be getting misty-eyed about the approaching end of Sir Mark Elder’s time as music director of the Hallé,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hallé, Elder, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - a fine and fitting finale...
An immediately attractive new choral-orchestral work from Sir James MacMillanWhen it was first announced that Mark Elder was to become music director of the Hallé, I phoned a friend who knew him well...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Donohoe, Roscoe, Stoller Hall, Manchester review - two great pianists...
The special chemistry of two-piano duet, with virtuosity, humour and depthA little piece of musical history was made last night at Manchester Chamber Concerts Society’s season-opening concert. Two of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bavouzet, Nemecz, McLachlan, Manchester Camerata, Takács-Nagy, Stoller Hall,...
★★★★★ MOZART IN MANCHESTER, MANCHESTER CAMERATA A remarkable marathonTriumphant conclusion for ‘Mozart, made in Manchester’ piano concertos series“Mozart, made in Manchester”, the project to perform...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lewis, BBC Philharmonic, Storgårds, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review -...
Season opener offers impact in Holst and thoughtfulness in BeethovenThe first piece by Grace-Evangeline Mason I heard was six years ago, a simple song in a multi-composer “Manchester Peace Song Cycle”...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hallé, Wong, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - declaration of thrills to...
East meets west in maestro’s opening statement of Britten and MahlerIf audience reaction is anything to go by, Kahchun Wong’s season-opening first concert officially in post as principal conductor of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hardenberger, BBC Philharmonic, Storgårds, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester...
★★★★★ HARDENBERGER, BBC PHILHARMONIC, MANCHESTER Individuality and disciplineIndividuality and discipline in Strauss, Stravinsky, Haydn… and more Two splendid pieces of orchestral virtuosity began and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Kanga, Manchester Collective, Singh, RNCM Manchester review - string ensemble...
New classics introduced and a world premiere with a dark storyOf all the inventive and enterprising things Manchester Collective do, it’s most often been the playing of a string ensemble led from first...
View ArticleClik here to view.
First Person: Bob Riley on Manchester Camerata's championship of a Centre of...
Making a difference out of the musical ghettoIn May, it was announced that Greater Manchester was to become the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia, hosted by Manchester Camerata.
View Article