An operatic Messiah at Sage Gateshead

By Jane Shuttleworth, 15 December 2014

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“I took advantage of the traditional audience stand to have a little dance”

Reviewed at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music: Sage One, Gateshead on 14 December 2014

Handel, Messiah

Paul McCreesh, Conductor

Royal Northern Sinfonia

Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia

Mhairi Lawson, Soprano

James Laing, Countertenor

Samuel Boden, Tenor

Benjamin Bevan, Baritone

A new light on Mendelssohn at the Glasshouse

Nick Butters, 6th March

Nil Venditti arrives like a small, joyful bomb at The Glasshouse and lights up a familiar Mendelssohn symphony with new insights.

****1

Sir Bryn Terfel charms Glasshouse audience in reimagined Schubert

Nick Butters, 21st November

Terfel’s charismatic account of Schubert songs orchestrated by a variety of composers, Sofia Gubaidulina’s meditation on his Impromtu and the composer’s own longest symphony make a varied and rewarding evening at The Glasshouse, Gateshead.

****1

Ticket to ride: thrilling, moving witty Berio at the Glasshouse

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Sophia Burgos and members of Royal Northern Sinfonia charm, amuse and astonish in a selection of Luciano Berio’s works at the Glasshouse.

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Hymn of Praise: thrilling Mendelssohn at the Glasshouse

Nick Butters, 26th July

As the BBC Proms visits Gateshead, Dinis Sousa and the Royal Northern Sinfonia excel in Mendelssohn, although David Fray's Bach underwhelms.

****1

Fire and ice: Víkingur Ólafsson performs at the Glasshouse

Nick Butters, 6th February

A Finnish soundscape, fine detail in Bartók and deep understanding in Beethoven from the Royal Northern Sinfonia with Dinis Sousa and Víkingur Ólafsson.

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Fray and the RNS offer challenging interpretations of Bach and Mozart

Nick Butters, 4th October

French pianist David Fray with the Royal Northern Sinfonia challenges orthodoxy in blisteringly fast Bach and darkly imagined Mozart.

***11

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Jane Shuttleworth

Jane Shuttleworth is a choral singer and recorder player, and specialises in Renaissance, baroque and modern music. She lives in Durham and runs a local music listings, news and reviews site Music in Durham