World première of James MacMillan's Since it was the Day of Preparation...

By Alan Coady, 02 October 2012

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Reviewed at Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh on 22 August 2012

MacMillan, Since it was the Day of Preparation...

Hebrides Ensemble

Synergy Vocals

Brindley Sherratt, Bass

Nail-biting Shostakovich from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Dominic Lowe, 15th August

Before a searing performance of Shostakovich's Thirteenth from Ryan Bancroft and his Welsh forces, Benjamin Grosvenor delivers a terrific performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major.

****1

Farewell, Sir Andrew: the Proms pays tribute in fitting style

Peter Quantrill, 30th August

Lovingly detailed accounts of music dear to the heart of the late master of ceremonies at the Proms.

*****

Reich premiere at the center of an evening of unexpected pleasures

Kurt Gottschalk, 6th October

Jacob's Ladder receives its world premiere, sandwiches by two staples of the 19th-century Romantic repertoire.

****1

A British take on New York minimalism: Steve Reich at Carnegie Hall

Kurt Gottschalk, 1st November

The Colin Currie Group and Synergy Vocals present an evening of music by Steve Reich at Carnegie Hall, including the US premiere of Traveler's Prayer.

****1

All Reich on the Night with the London Sinfonietta

Benjamin Poore, 12th February

Exemplary performances of classic works by the American minimalist from the London Sinfonietta

****1

Steve Reich at 80: cross-section of an iconic career

Phil Barrett, 5th November

From the ultimate process piece, to a recent video-opera, this central concert of the Barbican's 'Steve Reich at 80' weekend reminded us what the fuss has been all about.

****1

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Alan Coady

Alan has taught classical guitar in East Lothian schools since 1982. A graduate in Music of the then Huddersfield Polytechnic, he has a soft spot for the contemporary. He also writes a Musical Blog, where the special interest is the intersection of music/language/science.