Reviews Archive
The Magic Flute – Mozart, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 5 May 2023. Then at Southampton 26 & 27 May 2023. 4**** David Gray & Paul Gray
A radical and fresh new take on an old favourite.
Kazuki Conducts Scheherazade, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 3 May 2023, 4****, David Gray & Paul Gray
Some tentative Brahms followed by rousing Rimsky-Korsakov
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. May 4 2023. 4****. William Ruff
Exciting music-making from the CBSO – but you needed your musical sunglasses
Ballet Black, Then or Now & Nina: By Whatever Means, The Rep, Birmingham, 03 May 23 to 04 May 23. 4**** David Gray
Evocative and thought provoking dance.
Hamnet: Novel by Maggie O’Farrell, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti, RSC at The Swan, Stratford Upon Avon, Review: Rod Dungate & David Gray 29 04 23, Audio Described Performance 5*****
Theatre story-telling at its best.
Kazuki Conducts Carmina Burana, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 27th April 2023: 5***** David Gray and Paul Gray
A thrilling concert marks the start of a fresh chapter for the CBSO under the baton of their charismatic new Chief Conductor, Kazuki Yamada. Now: this really is a man to watch!
Pavel Haas Quartet. Lakeside, Nottingham. April 27 2023. 5*****. William Ruff
Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. April 26 2023. 5*****. William Ruff
Iceland may be a small island but it produces big-hearted music-making
Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 21 April 2023, 5***** David & Paul Gray
Thrilling playing by a fine visiting orchestra, with the added bonus of a perfect performance of a Beethoven Piano Concerto by Sir Stephen Hough
Four Seasons, Town Hall, Birmingham, The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) 22 April 2023, 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray
A terrific sense of the conversational and of the intimate in this radiant and emotionally moving performance.
Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, Symphony Hall, Birmingham 19 April 2023. 5*****. David Gray & Paul Gray
Classical elegance, romantic pastoralism and a very naughty bird!
Titanic The Musical, The Hippodrome, Birmingham, Tuesday 18th to Saturday 22nd April then on tour. 4****. David Gray & Paul Gray
An earnest and heartfelt musical dramatization of a terrible tragedy
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. 18 April 2023. 5*****. William Ruff
Red-blooded emotion, soaring melody and vivid orchestral colour
Alessandro Stradella, 1678 The Power of Paternal Love - The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham – The Barber Opera, University of Birmingham 14 April 2023 – 5*****, David Gray & Paul Gray
A very long overdue revival of an opera that needs to be heard more
CBSO - Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto, Symphony Hall, 13th April 2023, 4**** Reviewers - David Gray & Paul Gray
Good Friday St Matthew Passion, Ex Cathedra, Friday 7 April 2023, Symphony Hall, Birmingham. 5**** Reviewers - David Gray & Paul Gray
Another magnificent performance of this wonderful work
Julius Caesar: William Shakespeare, RSC @ The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon, 4**** Rod Dungate. Audio Described Performance 1 April 2023.
Refreshing and energised; a mirror for our Age.
Hallé. Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham. 1 April 2023. 4****. William Ruff.
Musical insight combined with eco-friendliness
Romeo & Juliet, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wednesday 15 March 2023. 4**** David & Paul Gray
Lush romanticism and moments of power
ASMF Chamber Ensemble. NTU Hall. 21 March 2023. 5*****. William Ruff
An hour of concentrated loveliness from the ASMF