Handel's Messiah reworked for the last night of the Bristol Proms

By Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres, 05 August 2013

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Reviewed at Bristol Old Vic, Bristol on 3 August 2013

Handel, Messiah

Southbank Sinfonia

The Erebus Ensemble

Simon Over, Conductor

Caroline MacPhie, Soprano

Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Mezzo-soprano

Andrew Tortise, Tenor

Toby Yapp, Bass

Neal Davies, Bass

A sensitive and stylish new production of Phaedra

Mark Valencia, 15th May

A post-mortem fantasy that’s as compelling as it is confusing.

****1

Ashkenazy and the Southbank Sinfonia

Aaron Davies, 16th October

Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts the Southbank Chamber orchestra in a programme dedicated to the interpretation of classical dance forms.

***11

The Enchanted Island a rich and strange Baroque confection

John Johnston, 5th September

Rather than compiling a Top Ten of Baroque Hits, The Enchanted Island amounts to much more than a gallimaufry of choice gobbets, seasoned with French galenterie.

****1

Impressive Rake’s Progress from British Youth Opera

David Truslove, 4th September

Fine performances from a confident cast brought some terrific singing as well as depth of characterisation in Stravinsky’s only full-length opera.

****1

Devilishly good fun: The Rake's Progress

Benjamin Poore, 17th November

A compelling and energetic debut production from a new opera company in the raddled surroundings of Wilton's Music Hall.

****1

Tragedy undermined at Wilton's

Mark Pullinger, 4th November

Paring the action down to just four singers, La Tragédie de Carmen is the perfect vehicle and venue for a handful of the Royal Opera's Jette Parker Young Artists to strut their stuff.

**111

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Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres

Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres is a Bristol-based film composer and classical electronic artist. Alexandra's passion in scoring and as a performer lie in the duality between the classical and electronica worlds, moving picture and her love for the piano. Her music has been described by The White Room Magazine as “majestic, at times monumental…the force and vastness of nature”.