Britten Sinfonia ablaze on the BBC Proms’ hottest night

Thomas Gould, Miranda Dale and the Britten Sinfonia

The Britten Sinfonia

Thomas Gould and the Britten Sinfonia

By Nick Boston, 07 September 2023

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“accentuating Tippett’s gradual stretching and unhinging of the Baroque”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 6 September 2023

Auerbach, Sogno di Stabat Mater after Pergolesi for Violin, Viola, Vibraphone, and String Orchestra

Corelli, Concerto grosso in F major, Op.6 no.2

Tippett, Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli

Richter, Recomposed: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons

Tonsgaard Sørensen, Shine You No More (arr. for string orchestra)

Britten Sinfonia

Thomas Gould, Violin, Director

Two funerals and a bedding at the Linbury Theatre

Eleanor Knight, 1st May

Tales of love and loss as operas by Elena Langer, Charlotte Bray and Elizabeth Maconchy form a varied triple bill in this showcase for The Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Artists.

****1

At Aldeburgh Festival, Nicholas Daniel plays the Pied Piper of Cool

Christopher Woodley, 13th June

For the Aldeburgh Festival's 75th anniversary celebrations, Daniel delivered a great performance of Vaughan Williams's Oboe Concerto, in the company of Gustav and Imogen Holst.

****1

Donizetti's L’esule di Roma: a Roman triumph for Opera Rara

Dominic Lowe, 11th May

This is the 27th Donizetti opera given the Opera Rara treatment and their ability to spot a hidden gem remains as adroit as ever.

****1

Love and death in Scotland: Mercadante’s Il proscritto

David Karlin, 28th June

A great orchestral performance of an exciting score don't quite mask the dramatic weaknesses of Opera Rara's latest.

***11

Holst's Sāvitri: near-death experience in the Barbican

Roy Westbrook, 4th May

A game of three halves from the Britten Sinfonia, with a late appearance by three star soloists.

****1

Colin Currie conducts Reich/Richter at the Barbican

Benjamin Poore, 23rd October

A new collaboration from Gerhard Richter and Steve Reich tantalises and enthralls in London.

****1

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Nick Boston

Nick has an MA in Music, specialising in performance and repertoire. His particular passions are choral music, chamber music and opera, with a particular interest in early music. He sings in a number of choirs in the south east of England, plays the piano and occasionally dusts off the violin. He writes about music here.