Artiste: Nicholas Cleobury

A wonderful performance of Harrison Birtwistle's Earth Dances at the New Music Dublin Festival, but can it still qualify as “new”?

With his centenary year fast approaching, Saturday night’s concert was a celebration of all things Britten. The festivities have certainly begun in style in Oxford, with Nicholas Cleobury leading the Oxford Bach Choir, the English Chamber Orchestra and soprano Elizabeth Atherton in some truly outstanding music-making.