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.
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.
Glittering stars of Christmas music performed by Durham University Chamber Choir.
Durham University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Harry Castle, with violinist Sergei Batishchev, bring searing emotional intensity to Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky.
Durham University Choral Society conducted by Mike Summers bring out the differences between the Requiem settings by Fauré and Duruflé, with ravishing solos from James Quitmann and Sophie Kidwell.
English Touring Opera brought the Byzantine glories of Handel’s “Ottone” to the Gala Theatre. I’m still buzzing.
English Touring Opera’s boisterous production of Haydn’s sci-fi comic opera Life on the Moon: reviewed at Gala Theatre Durham, 4 November.
Ben Rowarth and Renaissance returned to Durham last night with an emotionally intense reflection on war and grief that set Alsonso Lobo’s glorious Lamentations against harrowing British and French music.
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.
