From Bach to George Harrison, Craig Ogden dazzles in Sheffield

By Phil Parker, 04 December 2023

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“rhythmically alive and vividly coloured”

Reviewed at Crucible Playhouse, Sheffield on 2 December 2023

Villa-Lobos, Chôros no. 1

Bach, Prelude, Fugue and Allegro, BWV998

Scarlatti, Keyboard Sonata in E major, K380

Rodrigo, Tres piezas españolas

Sinesi, Cielo Abierto

Reinhardt, Nuages for solo guitar

Albéniz, 12 piezas características, Op.92: Torre Bermeja (arr. Crosskey)

Albéniz, Suite española: Sevilla (sevillanas) (arr. Crosskey)

Harrison, Here comes the sun

Craig Ogden, Guitar

Springtime in Italy in Macclesfield

Peter Connors, 14th May

Craig Ogden in Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Guitar Concerto no. 1 is the highlight of the Northern Chamber Orchestra's varied concert of (mostly) Italian music in Macclesfield.

****1

The Royal Northern Sinfonia's Mix and Match at Cadogan Hall

Alexander Hall, 5th December

The Royal Northern Sinfonia directed by Bradley Creswick and featuring the guitar soloist Craig Ogden offer an enterprising mixture of works and styles.

***11

Spanish sunshine and Austrian countryside in Manchester

Peter Connors, 26th September

A joyful concert by the Manchester Camerata conducted by Gábor Takács-Nagy with Craig Ogden in music by Rossini, Chabrier, Rodrigo and Beethoven, with a few surprises along the way.

*****

Wigmore Hall: Late Tippett

Chris Garlick, 17th January

A revelatory concert at Wigmore Hall of late works by Michael Tippett, featuring exemplary performances by Steven Osborne, Mark Padmore, Craig Ogden and the Heath Quartet.

*****

Craig Ogden plays Albéniz, Tárrega, Ryan and Tadic

Verity Quaite, 24th April

Craig Ogden’s easy manner immediately puts an audience at ease. With his comfortable assuredness and witty repartee, Ogden is able to facilitate an unusual sense of intimacy in such a large auditorium as St. David’s Hall, Cardiff. Indeed, seeing Ogden in concert is like being transported to an old friend’s living room, where you sit and chat, watching them play guitar – extremely well.

***11

Daniel Cohen shines in debut with Oxford Philomusica

James Potter, 1st March

It seems unfair to label a young conductor a 'discovery', especially since most young conductors labour tirelessly for many years prior to achieving wider recognition. But that's what Daniel Cohen was for me: a discovery, and a very pleasing one at that.

****1

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Phil Parker

Phil is a retired A-level English teacher who is now able to devote his life to things he really wants to do with his time. These include, but are not limited to: writing short fiction (his first collection, Girl with Fan, was published in late 2023), singing, creating programme notes for his choir’s concerts, volunteering, cooking, reading, and attending all home games at his beloved Manchester City. Alongside these is listening to classical music (live, on disc and on the radio), a lifetime’s love of which was sparked at the age of 11 when he discovered Haydn.