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Reviews
Ariel Lanyi (piano), Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 26 November 2023. 4****: William Ruff.
“Ariel Lanyi: piano playing of probing intelligence.”
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 25 November 2023. 5*****: William Ruff.
“The RLPO on top form in repertoire both serious and spectacular.”
Cinderella – book by Vikki Stone. The Lyric, King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 to 06 January 2024. 4****: William Russell.
“An audience pleasing pantomime.”
Photo Credit : Manuel Harlan.
Oh What A Lovely War by Joan Littlewood, Gerry Raffles & Charles Chilton. Southwark Playhouse – the Large, 77 Newington Causeway, London SE1 to 09 December 2023. 4****: William Russell.
“Littlewood’s magic is lacking but for first time audiences this production should still work powerfully enough.”
Photo Credit: Alex Harvey-Brown.
Boris Giltburg plays Rachmaninov, Town Hall, Birmingham 23 November, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“A towering achievement that brings Rachmaninov’s preludes to vivid life.”
Aaron Azunda Akugbo, Lakeside, Nottingham, 23 November 2023. 4****: William Ruff.
“Virtuosity and variety from two engaging musicians.”
Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 22 November, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘Powerful and complete readings of two romantic masterpieces .’
Photo: Courtesy of CBSO, Photograph of Francesca Dego.
Edward Scissorhands, Theatre Royal Plymouth, until 25 November, 2023 and touring. 5*****: Cormac Richards
‘Edward Scissorhands is a supreme theatrical achievement on every level.’
Photo Credit: Johan Persson.
Bach and Schumann, CBSO, Symphony Hall. Birmingham. 4****: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘A stunning performance of a Schumann symphony, but some tensions between an early music approach by a modern orchestra in their performance of Bach.’
Nineteen Gardens by Magdalena Miecznicka. Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, Eton Avenue, London NW3 to 09 December, 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
‘A searing play for our times – unmissable.’
Photo Credit: The Other Richard.
Cowbois: Charlie Josephine, RSC, The Swan: Stratford Upon Avon, till 18 November, 2023. 4****: Roderick Dungate.
‘Drama goes where other debates cannot reach.’
Photo: Courtesy of RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Verdi’s Falstaff, Opera North,Theatre Royal, Nottingham, 11 November, 2023. 5*****: William Ruff.
‘Opera North’s Falstaff is a production where all the darts score a bullseye.’
La Traviata – Verdi, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 11 November, 2023, On tour ‘til 25 November, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘A glittering deeply moving performance of a much-loved classic.’
Photo: courtesy of WNO
Mandy Patinkin in Concert. The Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D to 19 November, 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
‘Patinkin delivers a master class in the art of singing popular song.’
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus.
La Rondine, Opera North, Theatre Royal, Nottingham, 10 November, 2023. 4****: William Ruff.
‘Opera North mines a Puccini rarity and unearths its treasure.’
Scottish Symphony, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 08 November, 2023. 4****: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘Upstairs downstairs, brooding fjords and highland flings; a multifaceted afternoon in the concert hall.’
Photo: Courtesy of CBSO.
Trio Gaspard. Lakeside, Nottingham, 09 November, 2023. 4****: William Ruff.
‘Trio Gaspard: 18th century elegance and 19th century intensity.’
Ainadamar, Osvaldo Golijov, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 07 November, 2023. 5*****: David Gray and Paul Gray.
‘A powerful and thoughtful piece of total theatre.’
To Have and to Hold by Richard Bean. Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, London NW3 to 25th November 2023. 3***: William Russell.
‘A funny, episodic account of the end of days for a couple married some sixty odd years.’
Photo Credit: Marc Brenner.
7 Deaths of Maria Callas - an opera project by Marina Abramović, English National Opera, The Coliseum, London WC2. 3***: Clare Colvin.
‘Over the top with a drama of divas.’
Photo Credit: Tristram Kenton