Email: ReviewsgateReviews@gmail.com
Reviews
Rachel Podger, violin & Lucie Horsch, recorders: Duologues, Lakeside, Nottingham | 31 October 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Ruff
“You won’t hear Baroque duos for violin and recorder sounding better than this.”
Photo credit: Broadway Studios
Sinfonia of London plays Bacewicz, Rachmaninov and Rimsky-Korsakov, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham | 29 October 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Ruff
“John Wilson’s super-orchestra on superlative form.”
Photo credit: Chris Christodoulou
Vadym Kholodenko plays Liszt and Beethoven, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham | 25 October 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Review by William Ruff
“Piano playing of huge physical stamina, unerring power, concentration and style.”
Photo credit: Jean-Baptiste Millot
In 40 Parts: Spem in alium, Ex Cathedra, The Town Hall, Birmingham | 18 October 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review: David Gray & Paul Gray
“An exciting and profoundly moving choral concert, including a new work from Roderick Williams.”
Opus13 plays Beethoven, Adès and Brahms Lakeside, Nottingham | 15 October 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Ruff
“Brilliant playing from four exceptional young musicians.”
Photo credit: Elvira Glänte
Sibelius’ 5th Symphony, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham | Thursday 15 October 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray & Paul Gray
“Stirring Brahms and unexpected Sibelius.”
NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham | 14 October 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐Review by William Ruff
“Precision, warmth and stylistic versatility.”
Photo credit: Evelyn Dragan
NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, Symphony Hall, Birmingham | 13 October 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray & Paul Gray
“This is how you do 19th Century German music.”
From the Heart by Don Black, Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London WC2 | until 19 October 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell
“A glorious, joyous evening of words set to music.”
Photo credit: Eamonn B Shanahan
Elgar’s Enigma Variations, CBSO, Symphony Hall | 30 September 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by Paul Gray & David Gray
“A well-played, varied and satisfyingly diverse programme of British music.”
The Hallé plays Liszt, Beethoven and Stravinsky, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham | 23 September 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Ruff
“Soloist, conductor and orchestra launch the new Nottingham season in spectacular style.”
Photo credit: Sim Canetty-Clarke
Kazuki Conducts Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham | 17 September 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray & Paul Gray
“…an impressive way to start a concert season.”
The Gesualdo Six, Wishing Tree, North Wales International Music Festival, St Asaph Cathedral | 11 September 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray & Paul Gray
“An exquisitely polished gem of a concert.”
Southwell Music Festival 2026 Southwell Minster and various venues | 28-31 August 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Ruff
“Southwell 2026: delivering excellence today and inspiring hope for the future.”
Photo credit: Tom Platinum Morley
Nottingham Chamber Music Festival 2026, Various Venues | 09-12 July 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Ruff
‘A Festival for everyone: surprising, moving and entertaining young and old alike.’
Photo credit: Saba Walton
Richard Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, London Symphony Orchestra/Pappano/Barbican Hall, London EC2 | 12 July, 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by Clare Colvin
“…a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience for its dramatic power…”
Photo credit: Barbican
Kazuki Conducts Harmonium, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham | 4 July 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray & Paul Gray
“A brilliantly well performed Independence Day concert all about the best of America.”
Photo credit: Andrew Fox
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham | 18 June 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by David Gray & Paul Gray
“Dazzling violin virtuosity and a meaty reading of a Prokofiev masterwork.”
Photo credit: Marco Borggrevo
Ensemble Augelletti, Lakeside, Nottingham | 11 June 2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Ruff
“Intimate musical conversations between equals.”
Photo credit: Lakeside