Swing, synthpop, and the serious: Pet Shop Boys at the BBC Proms

By Julia Savage, 26 July 2014

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Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 23 July 2014

Neil Tennant / Chris Lowe, Overture to "Performance" (arr. R Niles)

Neil Tennant / Chris Lowe, Other (Songs, orch. A Badalamenti)

Neil Tennant / Chris Lowe, A Man from the Future (orch. S Helbig, World première)

Pet Shop Boys

BBC Concert Orchestra

BBC Singers

Dominic Wheeler, Conductor

Chrissie Hynde, Vocals

Juliet Stevenson, Reader

The BBC Singers at full throttle at Milton Court

Nick Boston, 26th February

Powerful Herbert Howells, together with affecting Shaw and engaging MacMillan from the BBC Singers, with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Sofi Jeannin.

****1

Aleko on the Arno: Bryn Terfel leads fine new GPO double bill

Roy Westbrook, 6th June

An unlikely pairing opens Grange Park Opera's season, the two works united by the dominant central character of each opera – Sir Bryn Terfel.

****1

BBCCO thrills in an evening of Sibelius and his Swedish neighbours

Susannah Moody, 17th March

A study of landscapes, freedom and love from the Anna-Maria Helsing and BBC Concert Orchestra, plus the world premiere of a Trinidadian concerto for orchestra.

****1

Mystics and magicians from the BBC Concert Orchestra at the BBC Proms

Leighton Jones, 28th August

Music from different genres, for the big and small screens, sit side by side in an evening of music that ignites and enchants the imagination.

****1

Over the top: revamped Tosca returns to the Theatre in the Woods

Mark Pullinger, 10th June

Stephen Medcalf gingers up Grange Park Opera’s staging with some deft directorial touches… even if Tosca is denied her final leap.

***11

Mari Samuelsen radiant in Pärt and Vasks with the BBC CO

Chris Garlick, 26th February

The Norwegian violinist performs a trio of contemporary works in an evening that concludes with Einojuhani Rautavaara's Angel of Light.

****1

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Julia Savage

Julia works behind the scenes at Westminster Abbey as a PA. Outside of her job, she sings with a variety of ensembles in London and further afield, and undertakes freelance editorial and writing projects – from concert programmes to tasting notes.