The Clerks: Three heads, One tale
The Clerks bring a fascinating story of how an unknown English composer revolutionised church music, illustrated with effortlessly beautiful and expressive singing
31 Jan 2018
My reviews of concerts in Durham. Full reviews on this page are written exclusively for this site. I generally buy my own tickets for concerts, especially when they are student or local amateur groups.
The Clerks bring a fascinating story of how an unknown English composer revolutionised church music, illustrated with effortlessly beautiful and expressive singing
Opera dei Lumi returned to Handel’s original version of Messiah, as performed in Dublin in 1742, giving a dramatic and expressive performance that was full of surprises.
Harpischord superstar Mahan Esfahani comes to the Durham Musicon series, playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations and exploiting the full emotional and tonal power of a beautifully restored harpsichord.
Chor Semiseria, from Durham’s German twin city Tübingen have been visiting this week, meeting local choirs and singing in Durham Cathedral with Cobweb Orchestra and Durham County Youth Orchestra. I met them when they came to a joint rehearsal with Durham Singers, and then heard them in action singing Mozart’s Requiem.
A gentle, prayerful Monteverdi Vespers with some ravishing solo singing, performed one-per-part by the Bishop’s Consort in Durham Cathedral Chapter House.
His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornets and Durham Cathedral Choir bring the glorious sounds of early Venetian brass music to Durham Cathedral.
Contemporary music from the rich choral traditions of Northern Europe (including a hat-trick of Baltic composers) forms the basis of a wonderfully peaceful summer concert by Northern Spirit Singers.
A riotously fun production of Will Todd’s jazz opera, Alice in Wonderland, performed in the gardens of St John’s College by Durham Opera Ensemble. There are two more performances and the weather forecast looks good, so grab a picnic rug and get a ticket.
The first concert of DurhamKLANG17 contemporary music festival showcased some wonderfully colourful and contrasting works by Eric Egan and his postgraduate composition students.