More Music News
-
Feature: Take Notes
Posted on Tue 26 May
-
Enjoy the first of this summer's concerts at Leamington Music
Posted on Mon 11 May
-
Review: The Flying Dutchman at Birmingham Hippodrome
Posted on Fri 08 May
JARUALDA QUARTET
“Our name is a fusion of all our names,” explains the Jarualda Quartet, “because our interdependence is at the core of our ethos. We are all equally important, and a good quartet is always about more than the sum of its parts.”
Comprising violinists Alex Postlethwaite and David Joyce, viola player Jane Park and cellist Ruth Henley, Jarualda boasts a wealth of experience, with all four of its members being much in demand as soloists, chamber musicians and section principals.
The quartet’s Shrewsbury concert features works by Haydn, Laks and Debussy.
The Gateway, Shrewsbury, Thursday 4 June
EX CATHEDRA: THE GRAND TOUR - BURNEY 300
We are delighted to return to Shrewsbury to celebrate the 300th birthday of Dr Charles Burney,” says Ex Cathedra’s founder & conductor Jeffrey Skidmore, in talking about this early-month Shropshire Music Trust concert. “Burney was born in Shrewsbury in 1726 and attended Shrewsbury School. His brother James was organist at St Mary’s in the town, where the young Charles received much of his early musical training. In the 1770s, he undertook two lengthy tours of France, Germany and Italy. He met Mozart twice and was a close friend of Joseph Haydn. His writings provide some of the clearest portraits of life in 18th-century England and Europe, and he remained at the heart of cultural life until his death in 1814.
“Excerpts from his writings and the music he encountered will transport you into his world. The programme will include the Allegri Miserere, which he published in London in 1771, adding to the legend of this iconic piece.”
St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury, Friday 5 June
DVORAK'S AMERICAN QUARTET
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s ever-popular Centre Stage season continues this month, giving audiences the chance to experience the artistry of the musicians in an intimate setting.
This latest concert has a 2pm start time, lasts for an hour, and features Antonin Dvořák’s String Quartet No12, Jessie Montgomery’s Strum, and a selection from John Adams’ John’s Book Of Alleged Dances.
CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Friday 5 June
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM CHOIR: A BLAZE OF GLORY
A lovely evening in the choir's favourite ‘out of town’ venue. A choral concert by City of Birmingham Choir, with Brass and Organ accompaniment, to be performed in the wonderful acoustic of Tewkesbury Abbey.
Featuring Adrian Lucas (conductor) & Andrew Lumsden (organ).
Tewkesbury Abbey, Saturday 6 June
CBSO: AN EVENING WITH DAVÓNE TINES
Renowned for blending opera, spirituals, and contemporary music - and hailed by the New Yorker as a man who is ‘changing what it means to be a classical singer’ - the trailblazing Davóne Tines has won plenty of awards over the last few years, including Musical America’s ‘vocalist of the year’ gong and a prestigious Chanel Next Prize, presented to artists who are redefining their discipline.
Davóne’s Town Hall appearance sees him performing in Mass Reorchestrated - a work which weaves music by Bach ‘into a multi-voiced exploration of musical America as it is and as it might be’.
The programme also includes Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No44 (Mourning) and Carlos Simon’s Amen.
Birmingham Town Hall, Wednesday 10 June
Image credit: Voxigma
WARWICKSHIRE SYMPHONY NIGEL KENNEDY
No doubt buoyed up by the Unai Emery-inspired change in fortunes of his beloved Aston Villa, Nigel Kennedy returns to the region to perform a concert as part of his first UK tour in more than 10 years.
The world’s biggest-selling violinist, Nigel is joined for the mid-month gig by long-time collaborators Alec Dankworth (son of the late John Dankworth and Cleo Laine), on double bass, and cellist Peter Adams.
Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Thursday 11 June; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sunday 14 June
MIDLAND SINFONIA 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
A programme of concerts celebrating The Midland Sinfonia’s 30th-anniversary year reaches its climax this month with a three-day festival... Kickstarting proceedings on Thursday the 11th with an evening of popular music ‘from Bach to modern day’, the ensemble then present a programme of celebratory compositions - to mark the conclusion of their birthday season - on Friday the 12th. The festival is brought to a close the following day with two concerts - in the afternoon and evening - in which the Sinfonia collaborate with a selection of community groups and local schools.
Alvechurch Village Hall, Bromsgrove, Thursday 11 & Friday 12 June; Rowney Green Village Hall, Alvechurch, Bromsgrove, Saturday 13 June
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA BY CANDLELIGHT
Making a welcome and candlelit return - this time with an expanded line-up of soloists - A Night At The Opera does exactly what it says on the tin, presenting its audience with a wide selection of operatic classics. Featured works include The Magic Flute, La traviata, Madama Butterfly, Tosca and Turandot.
Worcester Cathedral, Friday 12 June
WARWICKSHIRE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra are inviting admirers to join them for their summer concert, during which they will be performing four works: Fantasia On Greensleeves by Ralph Vaughan Williams; Gustav Holst’s Lyric Movement; Max Bruch’s Romanze For Viola; and Serge Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony.
All Saints’ Church, Leamington Spa, Saturday 13 June
BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
One of the region’s best known and most admired non-professional orchestras, the Birmingham Phil are here performing Mahler’s Second Symphony - a powerful composition exploring life, death and renewal. They will be joined for the occasion by Alison Roddy (soprano) and Emma Roberts (mezzo-soprano).
The afternoon concert marks the farewell appearance of conductor Michael Lloyd following a distinguished career which stretches back to the early 1970s.
Birmingham Town Hall, Sunday 14 June
ARMONICO CONSORT: PURCELL'S KING ARTHUR
Founded by organist and conductor Christopher Monks a quarter of a century ago, Armonico are one of the largest organisations of their kind in the UK. Using authentic period instruments, the baroque consort regularly perform with some of the best solo musicians in the world.
This latest concert sees them reimagining the legend of King Arthur, ‘beautifully interwoven’ with the music of Henry Purcell. Broadcaster Oz Clarke is the narrator.
Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, Thursday 18 June; Malvern Theatres, Wednesday 24 June; Wyke Manor, Pershore, Thursday 25 June
SIR KARL JENKINS CONDUCTS THE ARMED MAN
“Sir Karl Jenkins produces impeccable writing for a multitude of voices and instruments,” says opera and concert star Sir Bryn Terfel. “I wish I had his talent for composing tunes but am proud to consider myself one who adores singing them...”
Sir Bryn is far from alone in his admiration for his fellow Welshman, who conducts this Symphony Hall performance of his best-known and arguably finest work, The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace.
The programme also features excerpts from the composer’s Adiemus and Palladio.
Sir Karl is joined for the event by London Concert Orchestra, the Canzonetta choir, and three solo performers: Kathryn Rudge (mezzo-soprano), Zands Duggan (hand percussion) and Osama Kiwan (muezzin).
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sunday 21 June
ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN 30TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
The Warwick-based Orchestra of the Swan (OOTS) are describing this 30th anniversary concert as ‘both a celebration and a snapshot’ - a portrait of who they are now, shaped by where they have come from.
“This is not a retrospective in the traditional sense,” explain OOTS, “but a living, breathing statement of identity: an orchestra that continues to evolve, collaborate and re-imagine what a chamber orchestra can be in the 21st century. Above all, it is a thank-you - to our audiences, our musicians and our artistic partners - for 30 years of shared musical adventure.”
The programme features music from JS Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Radiohead, Sandy Denny, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Edvard Grieg, Miles Davis, The Velvet Underground and Peter Gabriel.
Warwick Hall, Warwick, Tuesday 23 June
CBSO: PUCCINI'S TOSCA
Giacomo Puccini’s grand Italian melodrama is set in 1800 and finds the city of Rome threatened by Napoleon’s French army.
The story focuses on painter Cavaradossi and his lover, the celebrated singer Floria Tosca, as their lives are endangered by Cavaradossi’s decision to help Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner.
With corrupt chief of police Baron Scarpia vying for Angelotti’s blood, there follows an intriguing game of cat-and-mouse...
The CBSO’s music director, Kazuki Yamada, here leads the orchestra and an impressive roster of soloists, including Anna Patalong, Sir Bryn Terfel (pictured) and Gwyn Hughes Jones.
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Saturday 27 June
SUMMER SYMPHONIC SPECTACULAR
University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra & Chorus are yet again ending a season by providing their audience with an afternoon of vibrant musicmaking.
Alongside a performance by the winner of the annual Concerto Competition, this year’s programme features Florence Price’s Ethiopia’s Shadow In America - a powerful and moving reflection on the African-American experience - George Gershwin’s An American In Paris, and as a finale, Puccini’s Gloria. The concert’s start-time is 4pm, with a pre-performance talk at 2.45pm included in the price of the ticket.
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sunday 28 June