Mysterious and glittering machines from Alasdair Beatson

By Benjamin Poore, 16 November 2018

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“it felt as if the music was being composed for us here and now”

Reviewed at Kings Place: Hall One, London on 14 November 2018

Beethoven, Bagatelle in A flat major, Op.33 no.7

Birtwistle, Harrison's Clocks V

Ligeti, Musica Ricercata (Nos. 3 & 7)

Kurtág, Perpetuum mobile (objet trouvé)

Messiaen, Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus (Regard du Temps)

Schumann, Kinderszenen, Op.15 (Kind im Einschlummern)

Fauré, Nocturne no. 9 in B minor, Op. 97

Bartók, Out of Doors Suite (Szabadban), Sz 81 (Night Music)

Schumann, Gesänge der Frühe, Op.133 (No. 1)

Ravel, Miroirs: La Vallée des cloches

Nancarrow, Three Canons for Ursula: Canon A

Alasdair Beatson, Piano

Nash Inventions: a sonic feast for six decades

Christopher Woodley, 18th March

Martyn Brabbins and Claire Booth are among the Nash Ensemble's regular collaborators celebrating the group’s 60th Anniversary, marked by four world premieres.

****1

Nash Ensemble’s Inventions evoke vivid landscapes and sombre memories

Christopher Woodley, 26th March

Fine performances from Claire Booth and Nash Ensemble conjure up the dramatic landscapes of Andalusia, the Hebrides and the wilds of southern Wisconsin, as portrayed by Harrison Birtwistle and Simon Holt.

****1

Defiantly alive Dvořák and joyful Schubert from the Nash Ensemble

Nick Boston, 8th February

The Nash Ensemble performs Dvořák's Piano Quartet no. 2 at Wigmore Hall, followed by a joyful rendition of Schubert's Trout Quintet.

****1

Music with friends: Royal Northern Sinfonia's Trout Quintet

Jane Shuttleworth, 11th May

An affectionate Trout played by long-standing colleagues and friends from Royal Northern Sinfonia, along with Imogen Holst's Phantasy Quartet and Thomas Adès's fascinating Piano Quintet.

****1

Sumptuous Schumann and bracing Brahms from the Nash Ensemble

Benjamin Poore, 24th November

Awkard programming but fine musicianship from the Nash Ensemble and Christine Rice as part of its 'German Romantics' series.

***11

Beatson and the Royal Northern Sinfonia play rare repertoire

Jane Shuttleworth, 21st November

Royal Northern Sinfonia welcomed their new chamber pianist in residence, Alisdair Beatson, with some brilliantly imaginative programming.

****1

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Benjamin Poore

Benjamin Poore is a writer and critic. His book on psychoanalysis and literature is forthcoming in 2019. He has previously written about literature and culture for the Independent, the Times Literary Supplement, and Times Higher Education. In his spare time he tries to sing Schubert; he has a very patient teacher.

Mysterious and glittering machines from Alasdair Beatson at Kings Place