LUMINOS: Contemporary Music for Clarinets

Feb 24, 2024 | CD reviews

Ronald Woodley clarinetsAndrew West piano METIER MEX77118 This recital for clarinet, basset horn and bass clarinets begins forbiddingly with Elizabeth Lutyens’ apocalyptic The Green Tide. This is Lutyens in High Modernist mode, and initial hearings left me with little...

Honouring Sir John Manduell

Feb 23, 2024 | News

The Royal Northern College of Music’s (RNCM) forthcoming commemoration of its Founding Principal will honour two outstanding figures, both with strong Manchester connections: composer Sir John Manduell CBE and sculptor Hazel Reeves. A bust of Sir John will be...

JACQUES COHEN: Various

Feb 23, 2024 | CD reviews

The Lady of Satis House – When the Bough Breaks – From Behind Glass Marie Vassiliou sopranoTippett Quartet MERIDIAN CDE 84668 While it is generally believed that the true-life model for Dickens’ Miss Havisham in Great Expectations was the Australian Miss Eliza...

Durham students mark female composer

Feb 20, 2024 | News

In the run-up to International Women’s Day, Durham students are celebrating the music of an alumna whose composing career began at the university 70 years ago. Ailsa Dixon (1932-2017), who studied music at Durham in the 1950s, is one of the many women composers who...

RICHARD BLACKFORD: Various

Feb 20, 2024 | CD reviews

LaSagrada Familia;  Babel, A Cantata BBC National Orchestra of WalesIkon Singers and Ensemble David Hill conductor Lyrita SRCD432  Richard Blackford who is 70 this year has, over 40 years, developed an international career. It is to the credit of his...

‘Quintessential Quintets’ concert

Feb 15, 2024 | News

Pianist Mark Bebbington and string principals from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are presenting under-performed British chamber works of the early 20th century at London’s Cadogan Hall in March. The concert on 24 March at 3.30pm will feature two major piano...

Chair of trustees sought

Feb 15, 2024 | News

The Ina Boyle Society is seeking a new Chair of Trustees, following the decision of our founder, Katie Boyle, to step down from the role in June 2024. The society was set up in 2020 to champion the music of Ina Boyle and of other neglected Irish composers,...

English Music Festival unveils programme

Feb 15, 2024 | News

The 17th annual English Music Festival (EMF) returns to Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire from 24 May to 27 May 2024.  This year the festival will celebrate anniversaries of two of Britain’s greatest composers: the centenary of Charles Villiers Stanford and the...

CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD: Cushendall

Feb 14, 2024 | CD reviews

Irish Song Cycles  Sharon Carty mezzo soprano                                                             ...

CHROMOSPHERE

Feb 14, 2024 | CD reviews

Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble Divine Art DDX21117 As a follow up to a previous disc, Twisted Skyscape (DDX2118), the present CD offers five works for woodwind orchestra, all première recordings. The five composers are Keiron Anderson, Judith Bingham, Charlotte...