CD review: Francesca Massey – Bravura!
A guest review by Julian Wright of Francesca Massey’s new CD Bravura!, a recital of 20th century European organ music, recorded at Durham Cathedral, where she is sub-organist.
12 Aug 2015
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 guest review by Julian Wright of Francesca Massey’s new CD Bravura!, a recital of 20th century European organ music, recorded at Durham Cathedral, where she is sub-organist.
An impressive and entertaining evening of jazz classics and new music from the combined talents of Durham County Youth Big Band, Durham County Youth Choir and Darlington Youth Choir, and their guests from the National Youth Chamber Choir as part of the BRASS2015 festival.
The young vocal ensemble Renaissance, directed by Ben Rowarth, captivated the audience in St Cuthbert’s chapel at Ushaw College with a programme built around John Sheppard’s stunning motet “Media Vita”.
A stunningly beautiful performance in the atmospheric setting of Ushaw Chapel of Couperin’s “Trois Leçons de ténèbres” sung Emily Owen and Charlotte La Thrope, with Sam Stadlen (viola da gamba) and John Green (organ). I had goose-bumps from the very first notes.
The Bishop’s Consort performed Bach’s St John Passion at Brancepeth on 14 March.
Highly accomplished solo and ensemble singing from Durham University Chamber Choir in one of the greatest pieces of choral music ever written.
Fantastic dreams, restless dances, storms and disturbed sleep swirled together in Durham University Orchestral Society’s Epiphany term concert in a programme of vividly evocative music that used the entire rich palette available to the orchestral composer – plus a few extras.
Durham Opera Ensemble’s first production at the Gala Theatre takes Mozart’s great opera “The Marriage of Figaro” to the sixties in a production that brought out the uncomfortable truths behind the riotous comedy.
Emma Kirkby and Jacob Heringman gave sublime performances of English lute songs and we heard too how they are inspiring music students at Durham University.
Music in Durham brings you classical music listings, previews, reviews and news for Durham, with a bit of random blogging thrown in. The concert listing pages bring together classical music events from across the City and the University, so whether you’re looking for a great concert to go to, or if you’re planning something and want to avoid clashes, this is the place to look.
