A scorching Diary of One Who Disappeared at Janáček Brno Festival

Julius Drake and Nicky Spence

Václava Krejčí Housková and Nicky Spence

Julius Drake, Nicky Spence, Václava Krejčí Housková, Romana Kružíková, Kristína Kubová, Ivana Pavlů

By Gianmarco Segato, 13 November 2022

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“a willingness to prioritise storytelling, bending his vocal technique to the dictates of the text”

Reviewed at Mahen Theatre, Brno on 12 November 2022

Britten, Ca' the yowes

Britten, O Can Ye Sew Cushions

Watkins, Welsh Folk Songs (selection)

Orr, Aince upon a day /

Anonymous, The Deil’s awa’ wi’ th’ Exciseman

Janáček, Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs (selection)

Janáček, The Diary of One Who Disappeared

Nicky Spence, Tenor

Václava Krejčí Housková, Mezzo-soprano

Julius Drake, Piano

Romana Kružíková, Soprano

Kristina Kubová, Mezzo-soprano

Ivana Pavlů, Soprano

Bumpy love songs from Roderick Williams and Julius Drake at PCMS

Cameron Kelsall, 12th February

A fully produced performance of Brahms' Die schӧne Magelone in Philadelphia, complete with on-stage narrator and bespoke drawings, proved less than the sum of its parts.

**111

Fauré Song Gala a showcase for the composer's mélodies

Mark Valencia, 13th September

Fauré was the finest of French songwriters. Stéphane Degout and Véronique Gens shine in a full-length evening in a packed Wigmore Hall.

****1

Gerald Finley and Julius Drake bring Night and Day to London

Mark Valencia, 24th November

Heinrich Heine settings by Schumann and Schubert are counter-balanced by Duparc and Cole Porter in a Temple Song recital reflecting on night and day.

*****

Alice Coote and Stuart Jackson bring Mahler to Middle Temple Hall

Mark Valencia, 11th November

Pianist Julius Drake and his two singers probe the audience’s collective soul with the depth of their Mahler performances.

*****

An intense Winterreise from Fleur Barron and Julius Drake

Edward Sava-Segal, 27th February

A young mezzo and a seasoned pianist performed a rendition of Winterreise that sounded very fresh indeed.

***11

Ian Bostridge and Dame Sarah Connolly at the Barbican

Edward Sava-Segal, 1st November

Song cycles by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Ernest Chausson are paired at the Barbican.

****1

More reviews...

Gianmarco Segato

Arts writer, administrator and singer Gianmarco Segato is Assistant Editor for La Scena Musicale. He was Associate Artist Manager for opera at Dean Artists Management and, from 2017-2022, Editorial Director of Opera Canada magazine. Previous to that he was Adult Programs Manager with the Canadian Opera Company. Gianmarco is an intrepid classical music traveler with a special love of Prague and Budapest as well as an avid cyclist and cook.