Reviews Archive
Handel’s Messiah, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 8th June 2022, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with the CBSO Chorus, 4**** David & Paul Gray
After a surprisingly lacklustre first part, this Messiah finally caught fire
Singing in the Rain, Birmingham Hippodrome, until 11 June 2022 and touring, 5***** David & Paul Gray
Rows A to E of the stalls will get wet.
Magic Goes Wrong - by Mischief Theatre and (magicians) Penn and Teller @ Birmingham Hippodrome Tuesday 24th May 2022 (and on tour) 3*** . David & Paul Gray
Magical fun, frolics and some great laughs, but overlong, and the same formula of corny "things go wrong" gags reworked over-and-over again
Would You Bet Against Us? A Rep Original Comedy with Told by an Idiot, at The Door, The Rep, Birmingham, Tuesday 24th May to Saturday 04 June 2022, 4**** .David Gray & Paul Gray
A bit crazy about football.
Manchester Collective. Lakeside, Nottingham. May 18 2022. 4****. William Ruff
An evening to challenge the senses and turn certainties upside down
CBSO with Gabriela Montero: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 & Bruckner Symphony No.6, Symphony Hall Birmingham - 11 May 2022, 4**** Reviewers David and Paul Gray
Piano playing to great virtuosity and style. Plus, Bruckner's dizzying heights.
Kazuki Yamada, CBSO Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony, Symphony Hall Birmingham, 04 May 2022, 4**** David Gray & Paul Gray
Mendelssohn’s Highland Fling
The Traveller - Unending Love Weekenders - EX CATHEDRA Choir & Academy of Vocal Music, BRITTEN SINFONIA, Birmingham Town Hall - Sunday 1st May 2022 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray
A truly magical concert of works by Roxanna Panufnik and Alec Roth - part of what might be described a new musical renaissance in the composition of choral music
Mamma Mia! Birmingham Hippodrome, 04 May 2022 until 14/05/22, then on tour, 5***** . David Gray & Paul Gray
Knowing me, knowing you - you’ll love this show!
Chineke! Chamber Ensemble. NTU Hall, Nottingham. May 4 2022. 4****. William Ruff
Music of elegance and diversity from a unique ensemble
Dance - Akram Khan Dance Company: Jungle Book Reimagined - Birmingham Hippodrome (& Touring) Saturday 30th April 2022. Paul Gray & Louise Burke 3***
A modern Gesamtkunstwerk to be praised for its timely, yet apocalyptic message
King Henry VI, Parts 2 (Rebellion) and 3 (Wars of the Roses): William Shakespeare, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon, Each Play runs 3 hours, one interval of 20 mins, one pause of 10 mins. Run until 04 June 2022 Review: Rod Dungate, Performance 30 April 2022, Chilled and AD performances 5*****
I thought much more highly of the plays coming out than I did going in.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. April 29 2022. 5*****. William Ruff
Vasily Petrenko finds England’s soul in Vaughan Williams’ London Symphony
Calcutta, Ensemble Tempus Fugit, Birmingham Town Hall, Sunday 24 April 2022, 3*** David Gray & Paul Gray
An intriguing musical exploration hampered by a lack of dramatic scale
Don Giovanni – Mozart, Welsh National Opera, Birmingham Hippodrome, 22 April 2022, 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray
The Rake Punished
Dudok Quartet Amsterdam. Lakeside Nottingham. April 21 2022. 5*****. William Ruff
Music-making of imagination and intense commitment - combined with intelligent engagement with their audience
Zagreb Philharmonic. Symphony Hall, Birmingham 4**** Paul Gray
Magnificent Mahler
Stand by for Action! Gerry Anderson in Concert. Symphony Hall Birmingham, 16/04/2022, 3*** David Gray & Paul Gray
The puppets were so much more fun.
Good Friday St Matthew Passion, Ex Cathedra, Friday 15 April 2022, Symphony Hall, Birmingham. 5**** Reviewer - David Gray
A beautiful fusion of human drama and spiritual reflection
Nutcracker!. Theatre Royal, Nottingham. April 12-16. 5*****. William Ruff
Matthew Bourne’s Technicolor extravaganza leaves a lump in the throat as well as a huge smile on the lips