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Reviews
Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 19 April 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff.
“An exhilarating ride through 60 turbulent years of Russian music.”
Britten & Tchaikovsky, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 17 April 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“Overall: a dreamy concert about dreaming.”
The Drifters Girl – Birmingham Hippodrome, 16 April ‘till Saturday 20 April 2024, then on tour. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: Paul Gray & Louise Burke.
“Vocal harmonies that make time stand still. But just who is The Drifters Girl?”
Photo: Courtesy of Birmignham Hippodrome.
Dresden Philharmonic, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Tuesday 16 April 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“Lush Russian romanticism contrasted with Mid-20th Century Russian angst.”
Photo Credit: Bjoern Kadenbach
Bluebeard by Emma Rice, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP. 11 – 20 April 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: Joanna Jarvis
“We all make bad bargains.”
Photo Credit: Steve Tanner (Image of Tristan Sturrock as Bluebeard)
Angela Hewitt (piano), Lakeside, Nottingham, 11 April 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff. Review: William Ruff.
“Angela Hewitt: an artist of flawless technique and probing intelligence.”
Photo Credit: Keith Saunders.
The Promise by Paula Garfield and Melissa Mostyn. The Door, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP. 06 – 13 April 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: Joanna Jarvis
“An important promise, reluctantly broken.”
Photo Credit: Becky Bailey (Image of Anna Seymour as Rita).
Good Friday St John Passion with Ex Cathedra, Symphony Hall Birmingham, 29 March 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“A compelling and atmospheric reading of this mighty work.”
Rhapsody in Blue, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 27 March 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
Image: Courtesy of CBSO
Ben and Imo: Mark Ravenhill Swan Theatre, RSC, Stratford Upon Avon, until 06 April 2024. 23 March 2024 (AD Performance). 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: Roderick Dungate.
“Totally thrilling.”
Photo Credit: Ellie Kurttz (c) RSC
Sinfonia Viva, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 23 March 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff
“A concert memorable for tender restraint and thoughtful intimacy.”
Image: Courtesy of Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
Fauré Requiem, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham Classical, Birmingham 21 March 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“A concert including dazzling virtuosity and profound spirituality.”
Photo Credit: Andrew Fox, CBSO, photo of: Alexandre Bloch
The Boy at the Back of the Class, Malvern Theatres 19 to 23 March 2024 and UK tour. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: Hannah Phillips.
“A beautiful, heartfelt and hopeful production.”
Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan.
Hanni Liang (piano) Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham17 March 2024. 3✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff.
“Hanni Liang: fine piano-playing - but controversial presentation.”
Indigo Giant, The Door, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP. 14, 15, 16 March 2024. 3✩✩✩ Review: Joanna Jarvis.
“A story of the Raj that still resonates today.”
Photo Credit: Alex Unai
Cosi Fan Tutte (Opera North) Theatre Royal, Nottingham, 07 and 09 March 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff.
“Cosi fan tutte: Opera North’s revival has lost none of its freshness – or ambiguity.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Wicked, The Birmingham Hippodrome, 06 March 2024 until 07 April 2024. 4✩✩✩✩: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“An undeniable spectacle with a deep emotional well at its heart.”
Photo Credit : Mark Senior
Cavalleria Rusticana/Aleko (Opera North)Theatre Royal, Nottingham 06 and 08 March 2024 (touring to Theatre Royal, Newcastle and to The Lowry, Salford Quays till 22 March) 4✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff.
“Cavalleria Rusticana and Aleko: compelling but unequal operatic partners.”
CBSO Centre Stage: Baroque Ensemble, 01 March 2024, The CBSO Centre, Birmingham. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“An intimate and engaging hour of informal but exquisite music making.”
The Hallé, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. 01 March 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff.
“Sir Mark Elder and Bruckner 8: an overwhelming experience.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham.