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Penny Homer

Penny Homer

Penny Homer graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Bachelor of Music degree in 2003, where she was also a choral scholar at St Barnabas Cathedral. She is keenly interested in arts and education, and her work across both includes stints at Akademi South Asian Dance UK and Benslow Music Trust. Additionally she worked for Edition Peters in their sales department before joining the Association of British Choral Directors as their Training Manager. Penny currently sings at Eton Lower Chapel, St Andrews Fulham Fields, Wimbledon Choral Society, Londinium and Vocal Constructivists, and continues her vocal studies with Ian Kennedy.

Author:Penny Homer

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Prom 69: A concert of two halves from Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

By Penny Homer, 04 September 2017

A stuttering first half of Adams and Dvořák redeemed by a magical Mahler 1.

***11

A concert of two halves from Pittsburgh Symphony

Prom 46: Rattle's Gurrelieder an irresistible force to move the hardest of hearts

By Penny Homer, 19 August 2017

A taste of the future with Sir Simon Rattle and the LSO.

****1

Gurrelieder: an irresistible force at the Proms

New York Philharmonic opens its residency with polished Bartók and Mahler

By Penny Homer, 31 March 2017

Glimpses of fire amid refined elegance at the Barbican.

****1

Polished Bartók and Mahler from the NY Philharmonic

An alternative Nativity at the Barbican: John Adams' El Niño

By Penny Homer, 04 December 2016

John Adams' Christmas oratorio sees some fine performances, but was ultimately found wanting.

***11

An alternative Nativity at the Barbican

Proms At... Roundhouse: a microtonal affair from London Sinfonietta

By Penny Homer, 20 August 2016

Fantastic performances can't quite elevate a disconnected audio-visual experience

***11

A microtonal affair from London Sinfonietta

Prom 32: Salonen and the Philharmonia prove a mixed bag

By Penny Homer, 08 August 2016

Fine Dutilleux celebration sandwiched between brilliant Schoenberg and patchy Mahler.

***11

Salonen and the Philharmonia prove a mixed bag

Prom 29: National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain provide an evening of stellar entertainment

By Penny Homer, 06 August 2016

The space-themed Prom 29 matches old favourites with new works in joyous performances.

****1

Prom 29: National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain

Prom 6: Gospel rings out around the Royal Albert Hall

By Penny Homer, 19 July 2016

Second-ever Gospel Prom runs the gamut of gospel, and pays tribute to titan Andraé Crouch.

***11

Gospel rings out around the Royal Albert Hall

Cartagena 2016: In Conversation with Jordi Savall and Rinaldo Alessandrini

By Penny Homer, 04 February 2016

Panel discussion a non-musical highlight of the Cartagena International Music Festival 2016:

In Conversation with Jordi Savall and Rinaldo Alessandrini

Cartagena International Music Festival 2016; Looking to the past and the future

By Penny Homer, 28 January 2016

The Festival’s tenth year is a musical exploration of its heritage and a celebration of young talent.

Cartagena Music Festival: Looking both ways

Orpheus CO helps Cartagena International Music Festival celebrates 10 years

By Penny Homer, 13 January 2016

A free public concert with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and celebrated friends chosen for the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Colombian festival.

***11

Cartagena International Music Festival celebrates 10 years

Las Rutas de los Esclavos: a spell-binding journey through history and culture at Cartagena Music Festival

By Penny Homer, 10 January 2016

Sounds of Mali, Brazil, Spain, Mexico and Madagascar blended to perfection with Colombia to create a masterpiece.

*****

Las Rutas de los Esclavos: a spell-binding journey

Folías Antiguas y Criollas: Old Spain meets the New World

By Penny Homer, 09 January 2016

Jordi Savall, Hespèrion XXI and Tembembe Ensamble Continuo create an evening of magic in the Cartagenan hills.

****1

Old Spain meets the New World

Lost Paradises: Cartagena International Music Festival's inaugural concert looks to the homeland

By Penny Homer, 08 January 2016

Jordi Savall and friends take us on a journey to the Spain of Colombus.

***11

Lost Paradises in Cartagena

Philharmonia wows with Ives, Berg and Schubert 9

By Penny Homer, 01 October 2015

Dohnányi offers hugely satisfying interpretations of varied programme at the Southbank Centre with the Philharmonia and Carolin Widmann.

****1

Philharmonia wows with Ives, Berg and Schubert 9

Occupy the Pianos: Hind and Schoenberg bring festival to a close

By Penny Homer, 13 September 2015

Celebration of 20th century and contemporary piano music ends with a focus on team spirit as Hind is joined by friends for Pierrot Lunaire.

****1

Occupy the Pianos: Pierrot Lunaire

Prom 71: St Petersburg Philharmonic shows us the best of Russia and Britain

By Penny Homer, 08 September 2015

Elgar shines after a fresh performance of Tchaikovsky with Julia Fischer and the St Petersburg Philharmonic.

***11

St Petersburg Phil shows us the best of Russia and Britain

Prom 26: Best of British crowned by an energetic Walton 2

By Penny Homer, 05 August 2015

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales on fine form showcasing British composers, with a little help from Chloe Hanslip and Ailish Tynan

***11

Best of British crowned by an energetic Walton 2

Prom 24: MacMillan's birthday gift for Runnicles shines next to fitful Mahler

By Penny Homer, 03 August 2015

Première of MacMillan’s Fourth Symphony is the highlight of BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s second Proms outing.

***11

MacMillan's birthday gift for Runnicles

Disappointing Mahler 10 from the Philharmonia at Southbank Centre

By Penny Homer, 07 May 2015

Charming rendition of Mozart’s last piano concerto not enough to save Philharmonia Orchestra’s evening.

**111

Disappointing Mahler 10 from the Philharmonia

Nash Ensemble round off 50th anniversary celebrations at Wigmore Hall in style

By Penny Homer, 18 March 2015

Forward-looking programme celebrates contemporary repertoire, with two world premières in a concert of works written within the last 35 years.

****1

Nash Ensemble round off anniversary celebrations in style

Mixed results in Philharmonia Orchestra's evening of Gruber and Mahler

By Penny Homer, 22 February 2015

Flashes of brilliance, but also mediocrity in performances of HK Gruber and Mahler by the Philharmonia.

***11

Mixed results in Philharmonia's Gruber and Mahler

Bringing fire to Nielsen's Inextinguishable: BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sakari Oramo

By Penny Homer, 18 February 2015

A powerful performance of Nielsen’s Fourth Symphony is in broad contrast to its elegant companions at the Barbican.

****1

Bringing fire to Nielsen's Inextinguishable

LSO’s World War I weekend-long commemoration of capped with a Sally Beamish world première

By Penny Homer, 21 October 2014

Ben Shephard’s A War of Nerves provide the inspiration behind Sally Beamish’s new choral work Equal Voices which receives its première on Sunday 2 November; his words feature heavily in Sir Andrew Motion’s “found poem”, recounting the horrors of the Great War, which Beamish has juxtaposed with passages from the Old Testament’s Song of Songs

Sally Beamish world première for LSO

Great expectations, partly fulfilled; Rafael Payare’s London Symphony debut shows a conductor-in-progress

By Penny Homer, 09 October 2014

Much-loved favourites wrapped around an assured early Beethoven piano concerto with Elisabeth Leonskaja.

***11

Great expectations, partly fulfilled

PSM 3: Triumphant celebration of Peter Maxwell Davies' 80th birthday by London Sinfonietta

By Penny Homer, 30 August 2014

Sian Edwards leads a powerful exploration of Max’s chamber works at Cadogan Hall, with extraordinary solo turns from Tim Gill and Rebecca Bottone.

****1

Peter Maxwell Davies' triumphant birthday celebration

Prom 56: London Philharmonic's speedy orbit of The Planets delivers polish, but not fire

By Penny Homer, 28 August 2014

Bold choices married with family favourites for Proms Plus Family concert, but programming was not always matched by expression.

***11

Speedy orbit of The Planets delivers polish, but not fire

Proms Chamber Music 5: Schwanewilms and Martineau sparkle, but fail to move

By Penny Homer, 18 August 2014

Technically dazzling performances are curiously subdued at Cadogan Hall on Monday lunchtime chamber prom.

***11

Proms Chamber Music 5: Schwanewilms and Martineau sparkle, but fail to move

Mahler's Ninth eventually triumphs: Donald Runnicles at the Proms

By Penny Homer, 04 August 2014

Vaughan Williams Tallis Fantasia ravishes, but BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra's Mahler Nine was unsettled as it was unsettling.

****1

Mahler eventually triumphs at the Proms

BBC Symphony Orchestra sail through unexpected changes

By Penny Homer, 01 August 2014

Last-minute Beamish replacement is a treat alongside accomplished Gurney and Walton.

****1

Beamish switch as the Proms

Pastoral mysticism as Gaia Theory takes centre stage at the Proms

By Penny Homer, 28 July 2014

Ravel and Dove complement each other, but Mozart sits oddly out of place in the BBC Symphony Orchestra's latest Prom.

***11

Pastoral mysticism at the Proms

Nature Study Notes up to Scratch at Chisenhale Dance Space

By Penny Homer, 28 June 2014

Scratch Orchestra revives for fresh performance of Cardew’s improvisation rites

****1

Nature Study Notes up to Scratch at Chisenhale Dance Space

Barbican’s Birtwistle at 80 over-eggs the pudding during its exploration of the chamber works

By Penny Homer, 25 May 2014

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group are masterful, but chamber works lack context during the birthday celebrations at Milton Court.

***11

Barbican’s Birtwistle at 80 over-eggs the pudding during its exploration of the chamber works

Triptych: Erratica by name, Erratica by nature at the Print Room

By Penny Homer, 22 May 2014

Mixed fare from Opera Erratica’s short trio, loosely based on Puccini’s Il trittico.

***11

Triptych: Erratica by name, Erratica by nature at the Print Room

No more than Pretty; Yende and Vaughan at Cadogan Hall

By Penny Homer, 15 May 2014

A lack of engagement keeps Pretty Yende and James Vaughan at arm’s length in spite of accomplished performances

***11

No more than Pretty; Yende and Vaughan at Cadogan Hall

Britten Sinfonia serves up another treat "At Lunch"

By Penny Homer, 07 May 2014

Alison Bell joins Britten Sinfonia to wow at Wigmore Hall in the fourth of the orchestra’s lunchtime chamber series, including Schoenberg's String Quartet no. 2.

****1

Britten Sinfonia serves up another treat "At Lunch"

Daniele Gatti and the LSO revel in Mahler’s discomfiting Symphony no. 7

By Penny Homer, 27 April 2014

A fine performance of Mahler's Symphony no. 7 from London Symphony Orchestra and Daniele Gatti, which finds joy in confusion, but can’t quite transcend the chaos.

***11

Daniele Gatti and the LSO revel in Mahler’s discomfiting Symphony no. 7

Powder Her Face is ugly and exposed at Ambika P3

By Penny Homer, 02 April 2014

Stellar performances can’t save ENO’s production of Thomas Ades’ masterpiece from poor direction, set design and venue.

**111

Powder Her Face is ugly and exposed at Ambika P3

San Francisco Symphony's Mahler raises the roof at the Southbank Centre

By Penny Homer, 16 March 2014

Michael Tilson Thomas brings together the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the ladies of the London Symphony Chorus and choristers of St Paul's Cathedral in an astounding performance of Mahler's great Symphony no. 3.

*****

San Francisco Symphony's Mahler raises the roof at the Southbank Centre

Contemporary Choral Music

By Penny Homer, 14 March 2014

Choral music is now hugely popular with audiences and performers alike. Following our Hidden Choral Gems article, Penny Homer takes us into the world of choral music of today, pointing out some lesser-known works which deserve to be shared amongst Bachtrack's audience.

Contemporary Choral Music

Not a wooden performance in sight: The Adventures of Pinocchio

By Penny Homer, 04 March 2014

The future of opera is in good hands, if Tuesday night’s opening of Jonathan Dove's The Adventures of Pinocchio at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama is any indication.

****1

Not a wooden performance in sight: The Adventures of Pinocchio

Dvořák and Janáček enthrall in Takács Quartet programme

By Penny Homer, 23 February 2014

Dvořák filters the New World through lenses from the old, while Janáček explores jealousy and suspicion in a Wigmore Hall programme from the Takács Quartet.

***11

Dvořák and Janáček enthrall in Takács Quartet programme

Barbican devotes day to the works of Scottish-American composer Thea Musgrave

By Penny Homer, 15 February 2014

Thea Musgrave given deserved attention by Guildhall musicians, BBC Singers and BBC Symphony orchestra in Total Immersion at the Barbican.

****1

A Total Immersion of great insight into the music of Thea Musgrave

London Symphony Orchestra begin Panufnik centenary celebrations at the Barbican

By Penny Homer, 05 February 2014

Andrzej Panufnik was paired with Dvořák for this London Symphony Orchestra concert at the Barbican, conducted by Michael Francis and featuring Anne-Sofie Mutter.

***11

London Symphony Orchestra: Panufnik and Dvořák

JACK Quartet bring fire to Wigmore Hall’s Contemporary Music Series

By Penny Homer, 23 January 2014

The extraordinary JACK Quartet showcase music by Ruth Crawford Seeger, Christopher Trapani, Brian Ferneyhough, Julian Anderson and Horaţiu Rădulescu at Wigmore Hall.

****1

JACK Quartet at Wigmore Hall

Aurora Orchestra take us on a road trip at Kings Place

By Penny Homer, 04 January 2014

Aurora Orchestra and Dawn Landes take us on a road trip across America, with music from John Adams, Charles Ives and Aaron Copland.

****1

Aurora Orchestra: Road trip at Kings Place

BBC SO and Christine Brewer at the Barbican

By Penny Homer, 20 December 2013

The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Christine Brewer close Wagner bicentenary celebrations at the Barbican by showing his influence on Strauss, Webern and Berg on December 20th.

****1

Christine Brewer at the Barbican

Spitalfields Music Winter Festival ends in style with The Sixteen

By Penny Homer, 17 December 2013

The Sixteen and Opera North Children’s Chorus close Spitalfields Music Winter Festival in sparkling fashion with Poulenc and Britten.

****1

The Sixteen at Spitalfields

Britten Sinfonia enthral at Wigmore Hall

By Penny Homer, 11 December 2013

Britten Sinfonia provide a lunchtime chamber music treat at Wigmore Hall, with music by Sally Beamish, Witold Lutosławski, Mozart and Fauré.

****1

Britten Sinfonia enthral at Wigmore Hall

The LPO play Górecki and Penderecki at The Rest is Noise

By Penny Homer, 27 November 2013

Southbank Centre's The Rest is Noise festival continued its focus on politics and spirituality with Henryck Górecki's popular Third Symphony, coupled with Krzysztof Penderecki's lesser-known Violin Concerto – but it was the latter work which fared better.

***11

The Rest is Noise: Sublime Polish melodies