Elgar
BBC Proms: The ApostlesSaturday, 11 August 2012
The first panel in a would-be triptych, Elgar’s The Apostles is also something of a prototype – the musical experiment whose risks would culminate so strikingly in The Kingdom. Tackling the crucifixion from “the poor man’s point of view”, its... Read more... |
Classical CDs Weekly: Elgar, Goebbels, Baiba SkrideSaturday, 04 August 2012
Elgar: Enigma Variations, Cockaigne Overture, Pomp and Circumstance Marches 1-5 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Barry Wordsworth (RPO)Never underestimate the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Less generously funded than the other major London... Read more... |
First Night of the 2012 PromsSaturday, 14 July 2012
Two weeks to go to the Olympics, of course, but the Proms Olympics – 84 concerts in 60 days – have already taken off, with Britain placed first, second, third and fourth. For last night’s First Night concert was one where everything except Canadian... Read more... |
The Dream of Gerontius, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Gardner, BarbicanSunday, 15 April 2012
It's one of the great perversities of modern cultural life that orchestras from America and Venezuela visit London more often than those from Birmingham or Manchester. A perversity and a shame, as last night's exceptional performance of Elgar's The... Read more... |
Vengerov, St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Temirkanov, Barbican HallSunday, 25 March 2012
Originally, this concert was to open with that mercurial wonder Martha Argerich playing an unspecified piano concerto. Then its first item became Martha Argerich not playing anything, for the good lady, almost as rare a visitor to Britain as the Man... Read more... |
Royal Ballet, Asphodel Meadows/Enigma Variations/GloriaSunday, 20 November 2011
“Over the top” is a curious expression. Originating in World War One, to mean going over the edge of a trench and into battle, it has altered by degrees to mean anything extravagant or outrageous. And Gloria, which is arguably Kenneth MacMillan’s... Read more... |
The Last Night of the Proms, Bullock, Lang Lang, BBCSO, GardnerSunday, 11 September 2011
Stately females sailed the corridors like grand multicoloured liners. Grown men in boaters and Union Jack waistcoats raced balloons to the Royal Albert Hall ceiling. Beachballs. Streamers. Flags. Fancy dress. One St George's Cross read "... Read more... |
BBC Proms: Lazić, Lloyd Webber, BBC Philharmonic, SinaiskyFriday, 12 August 2011
Several Prommers fainted, possibly out of boredom, in a longer than ever first movement of the Brahms Violin Concerto. The boredom, palpable around me, came not from pianist Dejan Lazić transcribing the fiddle part for his own pleasure - a... Read more... |
Caractacus, Worcester Cathedral, Three Choirs FestivalThursday, 11 August 2011
“The text of Britain’s teaching, the message of the free…”. No, not the Last Night of the Proms or the Olympic Games ahead of time. This is the final chorus of Elgar’s concert-length cantata Caractacus, which was given a vigorous work-out in this... Read more... |
BBC Proms: Little, BBCSO, Davis/ Late Night GraingerWednesday, 03 August 2011
They came in their thousands again last night, most – I’m guessing – for “the Elgar”. Lacking faith that Tasmin Little could fill the enormous soul of that most elusive of violin concertos – a prejudice, alas, fulfilled - I put my money on the... Read more... |
Classical CDs Weekly: Elgar, Walton, ZempléniFriday, 15 July 2011
This week’s carefully sifted classical releases include two symphonies by a fastidious, underrated Lancastrian, and a life-enhancing compilation of scratchy recordings conducted by a notable British composer. On a smaller scale, there’s an engaging... Read more... |
110th Anniversary Gala 2, Wigmore HallWednesday, 01 June 2011
Ghosts legendary and personal dog the nostalgic footsteps of Elgar's utterly characteristic late Piano Quintet - though who knew the old man had as much red blood in him as last night's world-class team managed to squeeze out? And circumstantial... Read more... |
