La musique baroque doit-elle être dirigée?

By Christophe Dilys, 04 April 2014

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Reviewed at Philharmonie de Paris: Salle des concerts de la Cité de la musique, Paris on 2 April 2014

Various, The Tempest (Reconstitution of Purcell's, Locke's and Weldon's versions )

Philip Pickett, Conductor

New London Consort

Purcell for the 21st century? Philip Pickett and the New London Consort perform King Arthur

Verity Quaite, 31st May

A deep red hue lights the stage. It is St George’s day and King Arthur’s Britons are about to fight the invading Saxons. Centre stage, four soloists – Saxon priests – are gathered to perform sacred rites to ensure their victory. To the left of the stage a harpsichord plucks out a tune above a bass viol and theorbo, whilst to the right a spotlight falls on Merlin, who relates the story.

***11

No fairies but lots of magic

Jane Shuttleworth, 12th February

A career woman, a femme fatale, a shop girl, an actor, a teacher, an idler, a biker, a priest, a bank clerk and five circus acrobats. These are not the figures that come to mind when we think of Purcell’s Fairy Queen.

****1

Purcell for the 21st century? Philip Pickett and the New London Consort perform King Arthur

Verity Quaite, 31st May

***11

No fairies but lots of magic

Jane Shuttleworth, 12th February

****1

Energetic Currentzis and Utopia at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 12th May

From Berg’s crystalline intimacy to Dionysian Mahler, Teodor Currentzis and Utopia defy orchestral tradition with standing musicians, spatial acoustics and an emotional intensity that breathes new life into the concert life.

****1

Korngold and Mahler from Ray Chen, Vasily Petrenko and the RPO

Roy Westbrook, 12th May

Few violin concertos soar from the first bar as Erich Korngold’s does, especially as in Ray Chen's high-wire account at the Royal Albert Hall.

****1

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Christophe Dilys

De père français et de mère sud-africaine, Christophe Dilys s'est initié à la musique avec le piano et la trompette. Après avoir étudié la littérature et les sciences politiques, il se consacre aujourd'hui entièrement à la musique à travers la direction et ses collaborations occasionnelles avec France Musique. Il s'est récemment découvert un intérêt pour la musique ancienne en jouant du cornet à bouquin.