A generous gift for John Woolrich

By James Moriarty, Royal Academy of Music, 24 November 2014

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Reviewed at Guildhall School of Music & Drama: Milton Court Concert Hall, London on 20 November 2014

Purcell, Three Songs arr. Woolrich

Wolf, Italian Songs arr. Woolrich

Woolrich, Ulysses Awakes

Stravinsky, Eight Instrumental Miniatures for 15 instruments (arr. from Les Cinq Droits for piano)

Mozart, Aria for Tenor, "Per pietà, non ricercate", K420

Stravinsky, Concerto in E flat major for chamber orchestra "Dumbarton Oaks"

Woolrich, Violin Concerto

Mary Bevan, Soprano

Thomas Gould, Violin

Clare Finnimore, Viola

Duncan Ward, Conductor

Britten Sinfonia

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

Britten Sinfonia ablaze on the BBC Proms’ hottest night

Nick Boston, 6th September

Inventiveness, joyful performance and intuitive communication from Thomas Gould and the Britten Sinfonia in recompositions from Richter, Auerbach and Tippett.

*****

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

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James Moriarty, Royal Academy of Music

James Moriarty is a London-based composer of contemporary classical music, currently studying composition at the Royal Academy of Music with Philip Cashian, having been awarded the Charles W Black Fellowship and the Howard Hartog Scholarship. His work is generally concerned with a high degree of structural integrity and harmonic expressivity; due to interest in a wide range of musical styles and traditions, these overarching creative concerns manifest themselves in a varied output, comprising works of differing scales and modes of address. Alongside his work as a composer, James also pursues careers in musical journalism and education.