Sala: Smith Square Hall, Londres

Alessio Bax's inaugural London Festival of Chamber Music sets off with a spring in its step.

It's not Christmas without Handel's Messiah, and in the delightful Smith Square Hall, the oratorio is given a staging by Wild Arts which may not completely convince, but moves nonetheless.

Arcangelo's dazzling creativity, superbly marshalled by the charismatic Jonathan Cohen, gives a gold medal performance of all six Brandenburg Concertos to launch the London Festival of Baroque Music.

A star-studded group of soloists and a wonderful choir make for an interesting, if not always convincing, interpretation of Bach's joyous oratorio. 

Whether surrounded by lanterns and weapons, or musicians and fellow congregation members, one is deeply involved in this work.

In the Baroque splendour of a church fondly-known as Queen Anne’s Footstool, the band entertains an appreciative audience to nine of the finest things they currently have on offer.

Die Streicher des LCO spielten engagiert und hatten sichtlich Spaß am Auf und Ab Graham Fitkins Komposition.

Paul McCreesh fand mit seinem Ensemble eine herzerwärmende Mischung universell wohltuender Festlichkeit.