Amicus Orchestra brings summer sunshine to Glasgow’s West End Festival

By David Smythe, 16 June 2019

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“...the Amicus strings surging like a summer whirlwind across a flowery meadow”

Reviewed at St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow on 15 June 2019

Humperdinck, Hänsel und Gretel: Overture

Bruch, Violin Concerto no. 1 in G minor, Op.26

Dvořák, Symphony no. 8 in G major, Op.88

Robert Baxter, Conductor

Tobias Ringborg, Violin

Amicus Orchestra

Romantic Tchaikovsky and a chilling Shostakovich 10

David Smythe, 13th October

Amicus Orchestra shine magnificently in the romantic Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto no. 1 with Elena Fischer-Dieskau and a chilling Shostakovich Tenth Symphony conducted by Catherine Larsen-Maguire.

****1

Magnificent 10th birthday: Amicus plays Strauss and Mahler

David Smythe, 17th June

Amicus chamber orchestra celebrated its NYOS roots by inviting 25 young players to join them for their powerful 10th Anniversary concert, conducted by Catherine Larsen-Maguire with Glasgow-trained soprano Anush Hovhannisyan.

****1

Scottish Ballet's A Streetcar Named Desire: sensual but tragic

Deborah Weiss, 16th May

Annabelle Lopez Ochoa's A Streetcar Named Desire for Scottish Ballet fires on all cylinders. Compelling drama and outstanding dancing make this a must-see.

*****

A beautiful, relevant Madama Butterfly arrives in Adelaide

Brian Angus, 14th November

The State Opera of South Australia launch a beautifully sung, dramatically performed Madama Butterfly conveying a powerfully confrontational telling of the opera.

*****

Scottish Opera’s steampunk Magic Flute returns

David Smythe, 4th May

Sir Thomas Allen’s crowd-pleasing Magic Flute returns to Scottish Opera in a finely sung performance with Tobias Ringborg drawing period colours from the orchestra.

****1

Talented young cast shines in New Zealand Opera's La bohème

Simon Holden, 19th September

It was hard not to be drawn in by the romance and tragedy as presented by such a sincere, credible and vocally talented young cast and a conductor with such strong identification with the idiom.

****1

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David Smythe

David the farmer was drawn into music through choirs, orchestras, taking part in and directing 'serious' opera as a student. Passionate about live classical music, particularly chamber opera, unusual pieces and events and giving the next generation the tools to engage with the classical world.