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Reviews
Odyssey – a pantomime by John Savournin & David Eaton. Jermyn Street Theatre, 16b Jermyn Street, London SW1 to 31 December 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
“Possibly the best Charles Court Opera Company pantomime ever!.”
Photo Credit: Alex Brenner.
Constella Music 10th Anniversary Concert. Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells, Roseberry Avenue, London EC1E. 4****: William Russell.
“A moving Holocaust story and a fascinating account about the decade long existence of Constella Music as it is now to be known.”
Photo Credit: Constella (image of Geyer)
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.’