Berlioz, Ortiz Pacho Florez (trumpets); Philharmonia Orchestra / Rafael Payare. Royal Festival Hall, London, 27.11.2025 Berlioz Le carnaval romain Overture (1843) Ortiz Trumpet Concerto, ‘Altar de Bronce’ (2022), London premiere Berlioz Symphonie fantastique (1830) Rafael Payare is an exciting conductor who […]
If you think you know what Wilson is going to sound like in Walton’s 1st Symphony, you’re probably right. Though I was hoping against hope that he would surprise us and come up with something […]
Handel: Partenope – English National Opera (Photo: Lloyd Winters) Handel: Partenope; Nardus Williams, Hugh Cutting, Ru Charlesworth, Jake Ingbar, Katie Bray, William Thomas, director: Christopher Alden, conductor: William Cole, English National Opera; London ColiseumReviewed 26 […]
We have met violinist Vilde Frang on evil occasions, most memorably in her coupling of Beethoven and Stravinsky, in Berg at the Barbican, and in Bartók in Berlin. We have also considered Albert Sammons’ recording […]
Hearing Boulez’ Rituel: In Memoriam Brumo Maderna the other day as part of LSO Futures; reminded me that Maderna (1920-73) remains an under-appreciated genius. Here’s the promo video for the present disc: The Serenata No. […]
Cupid’s Ground Bass: Strozzi, uccelini, Farina, Cavalli, Kapsberger, Biber, Monteverdi; Lucine Musaelian, Kieran White, The Bellot Ensemble; FHR RecordsReviewed 26 November 2025 A young ensemble in one of those intelligently put together programmes where the […]
Qalali Folk Band at Aga Khan Music Awards 2025 (Photo: Joao Peixoto) Eleven artists were honoured at the weekend as this year’s winners of the Aga Khan Music Awards in a ceremony in the Southbank […]
Anselm McDonnell Belfast-based composer Anselm McDonnell appeared on these pages earlier this year with my review of his third album, Politics of the Imagination, featuring music where political commentary and sheer playfulness combine with a […]
The Richard Shephard Music Foundation (RSMF), the York-based music charity founded in 2021 to bring ‘the experience and enjoyment of music to children and young people in Yorkshire and beyond’ is celebrating its most successful […]
Handel Partenope , HWV 27 (translated Amanda Holden, ed. Clifford Bartlett) Cast; Orchestra of English National Opera / William Cole (conductor). London Coliseum, 22.11.2025 Production: Director – Christopher Alden Set designer – Andrew Leibeman Costume designer – […]
