Leighton has extensive teaching experience from early years to postgraduate level music. Currently he works as a primary music specialist, visiting instrumental teacher and examiner. As a pianist, he was inspired to play after hearing Moura Lympany at a young age and has a large collection of her recordings. Leighton’s postgraduate studies focussed on his interest in 20th-century English orchestral music, with particular study of Britten, Rawsthorne, Walton and Vaughan Williams. A keen choral singer he has developed a comprehensive knowledge of chiefly British choral music.
In an unusual programme, with Finnish music from Rautavaara and Sibelius, separated by Walton, the Ulster Orchestra and Anu Tali find all the subtleties in the music.
Taking snapshots from 1806 and 1807, the BBC Philharmonic present two works from Beethoven’s middle period, with high musical standards and the Dresden Chamber Choir on superb form.
Taking a very different approach to programming for Valentine’s Day, Daniele Rustioni attracts a full-house to the Ulster Hall with Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky. Francesca Dego is outstanding in Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto.
The Kuss Quartet sandwich Kurtág’s Officium Breve between two late Beethoven quartets in the elegant surroundings of the Small Concert Room, St George’s Hall, Liverpool.
From the trials in love of a libertine, through the death of an angel, to the rise of an emperor, Rustioni takes charge of a rollercoaster evening of emotional turbulence.
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra give the UK premiere of one of André Previn's final works, while Joshua Weilerstein’s Rite of Spring brings a devastating blow in a programme of unique musical voices.
Malcolm Arnold’s overture Peterloo presents the tragic events of the beginnings of the trade union movement. The melodramatic tragedy of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake closes the evening, after Juan Pérez Floristán makes his Proms debut.
Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra fills the Royal Albert Hall, while Schumann’s piano concerto is followed by MacMillan’s masterpiece The Confession of Isobel Gowdie.
As part of their ‘summer’ season, Vasily Petrenko conducted the RLPO in Mendelssohn’s sunny “Italian” Symphony. Boris Giltburg uses Beethoven’s Emperor as a showcase for his flawless talents.
Barry Douglas, in his home town, gives an excellent reading of a piece central to his repertoire,while Olari Elts puts the Ulster Orchestra through their paces in a highly colourful Petrushka.
Mozart’s early youthful 29th Symphony felt rather misplaced in this otherwise solemn concert from Rafael Payare, Ulster Orchestra and the Belfast Philharmonic Choir.
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra present a programme of Rossini, Paganini and Dvořák with Michele Mariotti conducting, but it’s Ray Chen who steals the show.
Ulster Orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor Jac van Steen returns to lead an outstanding evening, culminating in Elgar’s First Symphony. Louis Schwizgebel impresses in Saint-Saens’ Fifth Piano Concerto.
