
Abraham and Isaac
A moving performance of Britten’s “Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac” by Philippe Durrant, Lewis Cullen and Francesca Massey.
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.

A moving performance of Britten’s “Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac” by Philippe Durrant, Lewis Cullen and Francesca Massey.

Durham Cathedral choir give their first ever concert at Ushaw with a superbly constructed programme that threaded together the Anglican and Catholic choral traditions.

Bach the theologian was at the heart of a small-scale St John Passion that shone with triumphant glory, sung by the Bishop’s Consort, directed by David Stancliffe.

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.