Category: Performance

  • Feedback from last week

    I’m yet to reflect on the writing process but Deborah and I are very grateful for the kind words parents, pupils and colleagues have shared with us about the musical. “There were some really memorable songs, including the fugal facebok one, but most of all I enjoyed the really sophisticated harmonies and subtle timbres of…

  • Last night…

    Last night of Juniper Dreams – only two performances but I’m unbelievable grateful that there has been two. I will write more about the process once the dust has settled but it has definitely been a learning experience writing my first work for musical theatre.

  • Juniper Dreams – Show week

    Rather amazed how fast show week has appeared; costumes, set, lights, technical bits and orchestration all coming together. Challenges abound but they’re invigorating ones and tomorrow is the dress rehearsal so I’m looking forward to seeing how far it has come. Yesterday was the band call and it was exciting to hear the score come…

  • Castor & Pollux – ENO

    Well not much to say about hearing Rameau at ENO this evening. Such compelling music, engaging staging and beautiful singing and playing. The second act particularly kept me gripped until the end. Now I’ll be pondering what willed me to listen so intently to this work. The production was rather interestingly conceived; the removal of…

  • Tribute to Maw at QEH

    I was pleased I took the time to hear all three concerts presented as part of a tribute to the British composer Nicholas Maw who died in 2009. The works performed did a great deal to give a glimpse of his compositional voice – all passionately introduced by Andrew Burn who clearly has had a…

  • I love to… score

    The show is very close now. Two more weeks of rehearsals – lots of run-throughs at the piano and polishing up with lots of detail – then a week of band call, technical rehearsal, dress then two shows. Amazing that one week will be the culmination of a project devised way back in May and…

  • Set for Juniper Dreams taking shape

  • Reich at the Barbican

    A privilege tonight to hear the LSO perform a programme of Reich music; it confirmed for me that not only is he a composer worthy of considerable attention but his music speaks to people. His voice is indeed a unique and consistent one and no matter what one’s opinion of minimalism might be, his music…

  • Marriage of Figaro – ENO

    I’m making an extra effort to attend ENO productions to make the most of their ‘Access all arias’ scheme for 16-30 years old opera-goers to get discounted tickets. It means I get wonderful seats for a fraction of the cost and I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve seen so far, no doubt aided by a better view…

  • My first concert review

    The editor of http://www.icareifyoulisten.com kindly has permitted me to contribute to the wonderful blog he started last December on ‘new’ music. I wasn’t quite sure what I would be able to contribute and envisaged it might be my usual education related musings. Thomas mentioned reviewing – of which I have done a few books already…