Email: ReviewsgateReviews@gmail.com
Reviews
Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 21 May 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“After a lack-lustre start, this concert picked up pace and energy.”
The Hallé, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 17 May 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff.
“Two musical knights in a concert to treasure.”
Photo Credit: Sim Canetty-Clarke.
New World Symphony, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 15 May 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“A longing for home meets the wonder of a new world” @ Lucy Walker, CBSO Programme Notes
Withnail & I, The Rep, Birmingham, 14 May, on ’till 25 May 2024. Running time 2hrs 15 mins with interval. 3✩✩✩ Review: David Gray
“Film to stage adaptation that loses much in translation.”
Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan.
Sister Act – A Divine Musical Comedy, Birmingham Hippodrome, 13 May ‘till 18 May 2024, then touring. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“A heart-warming and polished iteration of this solid, well put together show.”
Love’s Labours Lost: William ShakespeareRSC@ RST, Stratford Upon AvonRuns: 3h One interval, till 18 May. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: Roderick Dungate. AD Performance, 11 May 2024.
“A Love’s Labours Lost that fits our age.”
Photo Credit: Johan Persson
Death in Venice, Benjamin Britten/Myfanwy Piper, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 11 May 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ David Gray & Paul Gray
“A triumphant production of Britten’s late masterpiece.”
Photo Credit: Johan-Persson
Cosi Fan Tutte – Mozart/Da Ponte, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 May 2024: For the musical performance.5✩✩✩✩✩ for the production itself – 1✩ Review: David Gray.
“Beautiful singing and impressive acting marred by a seriously naff production.”
Image courtesy of WNO
Guarneri Trio of Prague, Lakeside Arts, Nottingham, 02 May 2024.5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff.
“Old friends return to Nottingham’s Lakeside.”
Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 01 May 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff
“An evening of muscular musicality from the Philharmonia.”
Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers, Birmingham Hippodrome, 30 April 2024 until 04 May 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray
“A powerful and moving show that is still as relevant today as it was 40 years ago.”
The Silence, Birmingham REP, 23 – 27 April, by Sonali Bhattacharyya, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Ishy Din and Alexandra Wood. On tour next at Home Manchester (30 April – 04 May). 4✩✩✩✩ Review: Dan Auluk.
“A powerful reminder of how silence can affect us all. Everybody should witness this!”
Photo Credit: Harry Ellleston
Centre stage: Mendelssohn String Octet: CBSO Centre, Birmingham, 26 April 2024. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“An energetic and convincing reading of Mendelssohn’s youthful masterwork.”
Bruckner 7, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 25 April 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ David Gray & Paul Gray.
“A mighty interpretation and performance of a mighty symphony by Anton Bruckner.”
Photo Credit: Jenny Bestwick
BBC Concert Orchestra and Alistair McGowan, Lakeside, Nottingham, 20 April 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff.
“Vivid, unsettling music-drama in which the Devil has all the best tunes.”
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)