Chromatica: young orchestra sounds a fanfare at Battersea relaunch

Hanna Hipp, Charlotte Politi and Chromatica Orchestra in rehearsal

By Susannah Moody, 12 October 2024

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“clearly not an orchestra to stick to one genre”

Reviewed at Battersea Arts Centre, London on 8 October 2024

Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man

Barber, Violin Concerto, Op.14

Prokofiev, Sonata for Two Violins in C major, Op.56

Falla, El amor brujo (Love, the Magician) for orchestra and mezzo

Tower, Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman no. 1

Kristīne Balanas, Violin

Maren Bosma, Violin

Chromatica Orchestra

Hanna Hipp, Mezzo-soprano

Charlotte Politi, Conductor

Three meditations on death and mourning with the RSNO in Edinburgh

Simon Thompson, 25th April

Mozart's Requiem packs in the crowd, but it's Berg's Violin Concerto with Carolin Widmann that really finds the spiritual depth.

****1

Kicking down the door: The Marriage of Figaro revived at ENO

Dominic Lowe, 5th February

ENO's revival features a striking performance from Mary Bevan as bride-to-be Susanna, but elements of the staging continue to raise eyebrows.

****1

The Hallé in Sheffield: a neglected masterpiece takes centre stage

Phil Parker, 15th November

A rare outing for Lili Boulanger’s Du fond de l'abîme is the high point of Delyana Lazarova’s concert with the Hallé in Sheffield, with fine performances of Debussy and Saint-Saëns running it close.

****1

Fine singing but messy staging: Le Comte Ory at New Zealand Opera

Simon Holden, 30th May

Director Simon Phillips takes the opportunity to reshape the setting of Rossini's comic opera to modern-day New Zealand.

***11

Dying of shame: Rattle and the LSO excel in a superb Jenůfa

Roy Westbrook, 11th January

Who needs a stage, sets or costumes, when opera can move us like this? Agneta Eichenholz leads a terrific cast in a concert performance of Janáček's searing opera.

*****

Osvaldo Golijov's Ainadamar revived by WNO for its 2023 tour

Mark Valencia, 9th September

Deborah Colker's production, seen last season at Scottish Opera, moves to the Wales Millennium Centre for an autumn tour.

****1

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Susannah Moody

A London-based journalist and ex-lawyer, Susannah will cheerfully listen to most styles of music. Having trained as an operatic soprano through school and university, she has worked for several opera companies and set up a student opera company where she translated, directed and performed in productions including flash mob opera. Most recently she took part in the ENO Response programme reviewing the company's 2022-2023 season. She also writes about food as The Moody Foodie.