flora-willson

The week in classical: The Pearl Fishers; Takács Quartet – review

Opera North’s latest concert staging goes big on pearls, with commitment to match. And the peerless Takács give a masterclass in delayed gratification

Flora Willson

20, May, 2023 @11:30 AM

Standards and premieres galore as music takes centre stage at coronation

From Handel to a dozen new commissions, the king selected a fitting soundtrack for the event

Flora Willson

07, May, 2023 @1:15 PM

Theodora review – a searing performance of Handel’s own favourite oratorio

Period music powerhouse Arcangelo gave the alternately poignant and earth-quaking arias the deluxe treatment in this unstaged yet dramatic concert performance

Flora Willson

30, Mar, 2023 @11:54 AM

Stemme/Svensson review – a battle-scarred voice and an ungiving pianist

The great soprano was as expressively generous as ever but Nina Stemme was ill-served by her duo partner Magnus Svensson in this recital that featured Mahler and Wagner at its centre

Flora Willson

03, Mar, 2023 @3:29 PM

In the Realms of Sorrow review – a ferocious, fearless start to the London Handel festival

The proximity and movement were thrilling during these staged performances of four Handel cantatas (plus new music by Héloïse Werner). And the playing and singing were phenomenal

Flora Willson

02, Mar, 2023 @1:06 PM

LSO/Pappano review – a serving of big-boned late-romantic symphonism

Barbican, London
Pappano leads the LSO with terrifying finesse for Coleridge-Taylor, Strauss and Liszt works, in anticipation of his new role as chief conductor in 2024

Flora Willson

13, Feb, 2023 @1:59 PM

English Baroque Soloists: Mozart and Haydn review – historical hipsters cut loose in captivating style

John Eliot Gardiner’s groundbreaking orchestra are as precise and sharp as ever, but are miraculously re-energised when joined by violinist Isabelle Faust and violist Antoine Tamestit

Flora Willson

15, Jan, 2023 @10:43 AM

NYOGB/Bloch review – visible delight in music-making

The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain played with virtuosity, panache and heartfelt enjoyment in a programme featuring Britten, Anna Clyne and Richard Strauss

Flora Willson

05, Jan, 2023 @11:31 AM

Tears, cheers and whirlytubes: our critics pick their classical highlights of 2022

While there’s no doubt about the year’s villain, before November’s funding cuts there were plenty of heroes to celebrate. We look back on a year that saw many musical highs and an all-time low

Andrew Clements , Erica Jeal, Tim Ashley, Martin Kettle, Flora Willson, Rian Evans

21, Dec, 2022 @9:03 AM

Proms & ENO: Glass Handel review – arias meet beatboxing in a creative but baffling cacophony

Anthony Roth Costanzo’s neon-lit ‘operatic experience’ brought together Handel and Philip Glass plus dancers, a painter … and films of erotic puddings

Flora Willson

05, Sep, 2022 @8:00 AM

Sir John in Love review – young singers achieve excellence against the odds

The twee Vaughan Williams piece is a strange choice for a youth company – but BYO create an endlessly spirited performance

Flora Willson

25, Aug, 2022 @10:10 AM

The Boatswain’s Mate review – Ethel Smyth’s comic opera has atmosphere and sass

Grimeborn festival, Arcola theatre, London
This lively revival of Smyth’s one-act opera lets the comedy shine although not all of her witty libretto carries

Flora Willson

11, Aug, 2022 @2:37 PM