Children’s choir at St Oswald’s
The children’s choir at St Oswald’s is recruiting. It offers children up to the age of 12 an opportunity to learn singing and music theory through the structured RSCM programme, and to be part of a thriving musical tradition. No experience is required, and it’s completely free.
Concert previews – Winter 2015
The listings are gradually coming in for the next few months, and based on what I have so far, this winter’s concerts are dominated by early music treats courtesy of Musicon and a particularly rich choice of organ recitals at Ushaw College, Hatfied College and Durham Cathedral. Durham’s local musicians have lots going on too, with music spanning 500 years from John Sheppard to John Dankworth and so far the students have told me about Mozart and Bach.
How brightly shines the morning star – DUCC
Glittering stars of Christmas music performed by Durham University Chamber Choir.
Intense romanticism from DUOS Symphony orchestra
Durham University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Harry Castle, with violinist Sergei Batishchev, bring searing emotional intensity to Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky.
Musical one-a-day
Having been thrown back into to cold hard world of a proper job, I came up with a musical one-a-day rule to keep my soul intact.
DUCS: Fauré & Duruflé Requiem
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.
ETO Handel: Ottone
English Touring Opera brought the Byzantine glories of Handel’s “Ottone” to the Gala Theatre. I’m still buzzing.
ETO: Life on the Moon
English Touring Opera’s boisterous production of Haydn’s sci-fi comic opera Life on the Moon: reviewed at Gala Theatre Durham, 4 November.
Renaissance Remembrance
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.
