Reviews

“This concert began with possibly one of the most beautiful renditions of Samuel Barber’s famous Adagio for Strings that I’ve ever heard…”

“An amalgam of music and physics – half concert, half lecture, which explored the science in music and the music in science…”

“Expertly delivered with an exceptional level of detail in both colour, precision and enviable rhythmic control…”

“From the opening number, the energy radiating from the stage was infectious, filling the room with rhythm, joy, rich harmonies, and a powerful sense of unity…”

“He offered a refreshing reminder that at its core, music is a living, breathing act of creation…”

“It was a real joy to welcome back the exuberant, eccentric and excellent Baroque Ensemble sensation, Red Priest…”

“A packed memorial Hall was able to witness such a fabulous spectacle to lighten the gloom of a cold January day and herald a new year of hope…”

“His choice of programme was spot on and, as he informed us, was a glorious musical journey through the ages inspired by the Baroque…”

“This ensemble has experienced unparalleled success all over the world and so can truly describe themselves as ‘world class’…”

“Charisma, colour, charm, romance, sophistication and elegance were just a few of the many qualities on display in this rousing performance…”

“Opening with Rebecca Clarke’s Dumka, both the violin and viola were gloriously matched in tone, superbly intertwining the haunting themes between the performers…”

“Out of the six pieces presented, five were concertos in one form or another, and featured some outstanding solo performances from a variety of different soloists, all of whom performed with style and conviction…”

“There was admirable colour, texture and sublime control throughout from Donohoe and some imaginative and clever use of rubato too. Andrew Brown’s excellent programme notes told us everything we needed to know about the music presented…”

“Following on from the outstanding side-by-side concert the night before, where members of the Southbank Sinfonia performed alongside College pupils in a variety of different ensembles and orchestras, the full complement of the Southbank Sinfonia arrived to deliver their own show…”

“This was an outstanding concert. Five players, all firing on all four cylinders, impressed a big audience in the Memorial Hall with an exciting, varied and approachable programme…”

“‘I Get a Kick out of You’ by Cole Porter is from the musical ‘Anything Goes’ and, in its original form, was a foxtrot, in lay terms; medium pace, about 104 bpm. In the hands of Matt Ford’s Ensemble it was mutated into a driving, fast swing number…”

“As a pianist, the highlight of this year’s Subscription Concert Series for me was always going to be the performance of the acclaimed pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason. Her time is equally spent as a Chamber musician and a soloist, which means she is aware when she needs to drive the music and when to allow the music to flow naturally…”

“Chamber music is perhaps at its most exhilarating when it is symphonic in scope. The Wigmore Soloists, never numbering more than six on stage, brought a richness of sound to the Memorial Hall that could scarcely be believed. The opening piece, Mahler’s single movement Piano Quartet in A Minor, is a rare piece of juvenilia by the composer who is better known…”

“There are many ways in which Brass Bands attempt to create a sense of credibility and value in what they do…”

“Jess Gillam is a natural. That has been plain to see since she hit the big time and leapt to fame some years ago…”

“To many listeners (including myself!) this programme represented a kind of musical heaven, and Imogen Cooper gave a marvellous account of both pieces…”

“Precision, consummate control, intimate musical shapes, exquisite blend, are just a few of the hallmarks of this extraordinary group…”

“We were charmed by the delicate and sometimes mischievous moments found in Debussy’s Children’s Corner. There is no doubt that Roscoe genuinely loves relating stories through his playing…”

“The programme was carefully crafted to display not only the familiarity of both musicians’ dialectics but also their respective instruments; the cello verging on obbligato in Beethoven’s take on Die Zauberflöte…”

“In mentioning the acoustics of the hall as he left, he commented ‘it’s perfect’. From someone of his stature that’s high praise indeed. He’s pretty perfect too…”

“To herald the new season it was important to make a splash, and what better way than to invite the legendary BBC Big Band with conductor, Barry Forgie and Elaine Delmar as soloist. In short, it was sensational…”