Heavenly Bach from Iestyn Davies at the BBC Proms

Iestyn Davies

The English Concert and Kristian Bezuidenhout

By Leighton Jones, 27 August 2023

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“the gentle counterpoint and warm sound of the oboe d’amore were beguiling”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 25 August 2023

Bach, Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust - Cantata, BWV170

Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 in G major, BWV1048

Bach, Geist und Seele wird verwirret - Cantata, BWV35

Iestyn Davies, Countertenor

The English Concert

Kristian Bezuidenhout, Harpsichord, Director

A radically trad Fidelio at Garsington

Peter Quantrill, 27th June

Simple solutions prove the best in Beethoven's "problem" opera as John Cox's staging is revived at Garsington.

****1

Ravishing Rodelinda: Handel al fresco at Garsington Opera

Roy Westbrook, 13th June

Ruth Knight untangles Handel's Rodelinda, directing a new staging at Garsington which features a feast of fine singing.

****1

Rameau meets The Kardashians: Platée at Garsington

David Karlin, 29th May

A superb orchestral performance from Paul Agnew and The English Concert lights up a breezy and fun staging of Rameau's ballet bouffon.

***11

Handel's Brockes Passion resurrected by The English Concert

Roy Westbrook, 27th March

The London Handel Festival offers a chance to hear rarely performed music for Passiontide, with Harry Bicket conducting the English Concert.

****1

Top Mozart from Kristian Bezuidenhout and The English Concert

Mark Thomas, 7th June

A scintillating account of an all-Mozart programme at St Martin-in-the-Fields with a mighty concerto, a mightier symphony and one of his more unusual overtures.

*****

Fine cast shines in Garsington's new Mitridate

Stephen Pritchard, 1st June

Robert Murray excels as the eponymous king in the opera seria that cemented the 14-year old Mozart’s position as the next big thing.

***11

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Leighton Jones

Leighton has extensive teaching experience from early years to postgraduate level music. Currently he works as a primary music specialist, visiting instrumental teacher and examiner. As a pianist, he was inspired to play after hearing Moura Lympany at a young age and has a large collection of her recordings. Leighton’s postgraduate studies focussed on his interest in 20th-century English orchestral music, with particular study of Britten, Rawsthorne, Walton and Vaughan Williams. A keen choral singer he has developed a comprehensive knowledge of chiefly British choral music.

Heavenly Bach from Iestyn Davies and The English Concert at the BBC Proms