Reviews
St Matthew Passion, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Whelan, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin review - the heights rescaled
Saturday, 12 April 2025
When you’ve already come as close as possible to perfection in the greatest masterpiece, why risk a repeat performance with a difference? Because Bach’s St Matthew Passion needs to be an annual fixture without routine, and because inspirational IBO director Peter Whelan can be guaranteed not only to recapture the magic but to try a few new things, and to choose new soloists with fine judgement.
Thanks for Having Me, Riverside Studios review - snappily performed comedy with a lightweight core
Saturday, 12 April 2025
Keelan Kember’s play Thanks for Having Me may look like a vehicle for Kedar Williams-Stirling (Sex Education, Red Pitch), but it’s more accurately a showcase for the comedic talents of Keelan Kember, a former OUDS performer with a TV pilot to his credit already. This 70-minute piece looks like another one.
Kraggerud, Irish Chamber Orchestra, RIAM Dublin...
Friday, 11 April 2025
A lot hung upon the delivery last night of Henning Kraggerud, whom I last witnessed leading performances of Strauss’s Metamorphosen and some of his...
theartsdesk on Vinyl: Record Store Day Special...
Friday, 11 April 2025
Record Store Day 2025 is tomorrow (Saturday 12th April 2025)! At theartsdesk on Vinyl we’ve been sent a selection of exclusive RSD goodies. Check the...
Sad Book, Hackney Empire review - What we feel,...
Friday, 11 April 2025
Who goes to the theatre to feel sad? That is, knowing full well that they won’t be going home with a skip in their step. Many people, it would appear...
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Small, Hallé, Wong, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - return to Shostakovich’s ambiguous triumphalism
Illumination from a conductor with his own signature |
The Amateur review - revenge of the nerd
Remi Malek's computer geek goes on a cerebral killing spree |
Holy Cow review - perfectly pitched coming-of-age tale in rural France
Debut feature of immense charm with an all-amateur cast |
LSO, Noseda, Barbican review - Half Six shake-up
Principal guest conductor is adrenalin-charged in presentation of a Prokofiev monster |
Primal Scream, O2 Academy, Birmingham review - from anthems of social justice to songs of heartbreak
Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes aren’t ready to join the heritage circuit yet |
theartsdesk on Vinyl 89: Wilco, Decius, Hot 8 Brass Band, Henge, Dub Syndicate, Motörhead and more
The last-standing and largest regular vinyl record reviews in the world |
Tallinn Music Week 2025 review - Estonia’s capital accommodates all flavours of music
The festival where everything appears on an equal footing |
Marcus Brigstocke, Touring review - modern manhood laid bare
Observations on what it is to be a bloke today |
Patrick McGilligan: Woody Allen - A Travesty of a Mockery of a Sham review - New York stories
Fair-minded Woody Allen biography covers all bases |
Peter Grimes, Welsh National Opera review - febrile energy and rage
In every sense a tour de force |
An Evening with Joan Armatrading, Cadogan Hall review - thoughtful and engaging conversation
From rock'n'roll to Open University, the singer on life and work |
Frang, LPO, Jurowski, RFH review - every beauty revealed
Schumann rarity equals Beethoven and Schubert in perfectly executed programme |
Kenny Garrett, Ronnie Scott's review - a mixed bag
Conjuring the spirit and treading water |
Album: Sofia Härdig - Lighthouse of Glass
Swedish singer-songwriter takes control of her music |
Music Reissues Weekly: Ibex Band - Stereo Instrumental Music
Ethiopian jazz album from 1976 which resists easy categorisation |
Levit, Sternath, Wigmore Hall review - pushing the boundaries in Prokofiev and Shostakovich
Master pianist shines the spotlight on star protégé in another unique programme |
Rhinoceros, Almeida Theatre review - joyously absurd and absurdly joyful
Ionesco classic gets an entertainingly vivid and contemporary update |
Mr Burton review - modest film about the birth of an extraordinary talent
Harry Lawtey and Toby Jones excel as the future Richard Burton and his mentor |
Restless review - curse of the noisy neighbours
Assured comedy-drama about an ordinary Englishwoman turned vigilante |
MobLand, Paramount+ review - more guns, goons and gangsters from Guy Ritchie
High-powered cast impersonates the larcenous Harrigan dynasty |
Ed Atkins, Tate Britain review - hiding behind computer generated doppelgängers
Emotions too raw to explore |
Four Mothers review - one gay man deals with three extra mothers
Darren Thornton's comedy has charm but is implausible |
The Importance of Being Oscar, Jermyn Street Theatre review - Wilde, still burning bright
Alastair Whatley honours his subject in a quietly powerful performance |
Stiletto, Charing Cross Theatre review - new musical excess
Quirky, operatic show won't please everyone, but will delight many |
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St Matthew Passion, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Whelan, St Patr...
When you’ve already come as close as possible to perfection in the greatest masterpiece, why risk a repeat performance with a difference? Because...
Thanks for Having Me, Riverside Studios review - snappily pe...
Keelan Kember’s play Thanks for Having Me may look like a vehicle for Kedar Williams-Stirling (Sex Education, Red Pitch...
Kraggerud, Irish Chamber Orchestra, RIAM Dublin review - sto...
A lot hung upon the delivery last night of Henning Kraggerud, whom I last witnessed leading performances of Strauss’s Metamorphosen and...
theartsdesk on Vinyl: Record Store Day Special 2025
Record Store Day 2025 is tomorrow (Saturday 12th April 2025)! At theartsdesk on Vinyl we’ve been sent a selection of exclusive...
Sad Book, Hackney Empire review - What we feel, what we show...
Who goes to the theatre to feel sad? That is, knowing full well that they won’t be going home with a skip in their step. Many people, it would...
Small, Hallé, Wong, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - re...
Kahchun Wong returned to the symphony with which he made his first big impression conducting the Hallé – and made a big impression with it again...
The Amateur review - revenge of the nerd
In a world of macho super-achievers like Jack Reacher and Ethan Hunt, maybe it’s time to hear it for the nerdy guys. The Amateur (based...
Holy Cow review - perfectly pitched coming-of-age tale in ru...
Director Louise Courvoisier has put herself firmly on the film map with this story of young Totone and his little sister, carving out a...
Album: Joe Lovano - Homage
Tenor titan Joe Lovano is thrilled by how Homage has turned out. He actually told me so himself in person a few weeks ago, and his new...