IMAN: ALBUM II James W. Iman, piano (Divine Art Recordings) This second album from American pianist James Iman places Debussy’s evergreen ‘Images’ alongside works by Donald Martino (1931-2005) and contemporary composer Jenny Beck (b.1985), whose work ‘Stand Still Here’ receives its premiere recording on this disc. A specialist in music written since 1900 – with…
La Bohème Italian Style at Opera Holland Park
Giacomo Puccini’s Bohème was Opera Holland Park’s popular offering this week. Natasha Metherell, Director of this production, forewent the traditional Parisian setting and opted for an Italian film set of the 1950s. This was a nod to Puccini’s homeland and a gamble which didn’t quite pay off. The stage filled with megaphones, spotlights, film cameras and…
Unbound: Mahan Esfahani & Carolyn Sampson on disc and in recital
For any listener, there’s a special kind of excitement reserved for when favourite artists – those you’ve been following separately for some time, collected their records and so forth – suddenly collaborate. Examples that spring to my mind include ‘The Marble Downs’, a masterpiece made by one of the UK’s greatest (and much missed, certainly…
Bold testament: ‘Out of Her Mouth’, Dunedin Consort & soloists, Village Underground, London
A couple of watermelons still share the stage with the artists as they receive our applause. They are the lucky ones. Their fallen comrades gave their lives in mostly spectacular fashion, just one of the bravura surprises in this wildly inventive production. ‘Out of Her Mouth’ is a joint venture by Dunedin Consort, who supply…
Despax’s ‘Après un rêve’ is a dream of an album
Emmanuel Despax’s boyhood was spent discussing music and poetry with his poet grandfather, Jacques Charpentreau, over French patisseries. Memories of those perfect moments spent with his beloved relative, listening to Debussy, Poulenc, Ravel, Saint Saëns, has led to Despax’s latest piano release, Après un rêve. Some works are daringly familiar. Debussy’s Clair de Lune, for instance, is…
ECHOES: genre-busting inventiveness from Orchestra of the Swan
‘Echoes’ is the latest in Orchestra of the Swan’s ‘mixtape’ series, following on from ‘Timelapse’ and ‘Labyrinths’ (which has received over 8 million audio streams since 2021 and was shortlisted for Gramophone award in the Spatial Audio category). As with their previous mixtape albums, ‘Echoes’ is an eclectic mix of music encompassing a variety of…
A Sublime ‘Hansel and Gretel’ at Opera Holland Park
Opera Holland Park’s decision to take on Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel this 2023 season was inspired and not only because the story chimes with societal concerns over child poverty and hunger. There are many reasons to see this late 19th century opera, which is far from political and more religious in sentiment, the libretto having been…
Pretty good together: Barb Jungr and her Trio, ‘My Marquee’
To paraphrase Bob Dylan, one of her heroes and creative touchstones, Barb Jungr contains multitudes. Anyone familiar with her work will know what a versatile talent she is. She personifies what cabaret at its absolute finest can be. She’s a consummate jazz vocalist – commanding, beguiling and arresting whether working within that genre or careering…
The Fairy Queen. Purcell in a Pastoral Setting
On July 1st, for one evening only, The Fairy Queen will be performed in the gardens of Wyke House in Somerset. ArtMuseLondon’s opera reviewer, Karine Hetherington, went to talk to bass-baritone, Timothy Dickinson, and soprano, Amy Carson about Purcell’s opera. Why did you choose this opera? Timothy : Having presented Acis & Galatea, the pinnacle of so-called…
Opera Holland Park Delivers A Polished Production of Rigoletto
Verdi’s opera Rigoletto marked the beginning of Opera Holland Park’s 2023 season last week. The story of a disabled jester who feels trapped in a society he despises makes for good drama. Not surprisingly Verdi saw in the court jester Rigoletto “A Creation worthy of Shakespeare”. “If I am evil – you are to blame”, Rigoletto sings but…
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