Johnston's Tavener the highlight for the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra with MacGregor

Guy Johnston
© Frances Marshall

Ruth Rogers (violin)

Guy Johnston (cello)

Joanna MacGregor (conductor)

Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra

2.45pm, Sunday 29 March 2026

Brighton Dome

★★★★

Vaughan Williams, Ralph (1872-1958): Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Vivaldi, Antonio (1678-1741): Le quattro stagioni, Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV269 'La primavera' (excerpts)

                                                                               Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV297 'L'inverno' (excerpts)

Richter, Max (b.1966): Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons (excerpts)

Ruth Rogers, Joanna MacGregor
& the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra
© Nick Boston

Vaughan Williams:

'.... was a great place to start, allowing the BPO strings to demonstrate warm tone and strong ensemble'.

Vivaldi/Richter:

this was a highly enjoyable rendition, with Rogers leading with spirit, dancing to the offbeat rhythms in Richter’s obsessive take on Spring.

Vivaldi had the last word, and the BPO strings positively fizzed

Guy Johnston, Joanna MacGregor
& the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra
© Nick Boston

Tavener:

'The star of the show proved to be cellist Guy Johnston, with an intensely focussed performance'.

'Johnston’s variety of tone ... was astonishing'. 

'A wonderful performance from Johnston, but also raising MacGregor and the BPO strings’ game to a new level'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Ticciati and the LPO deliver epic Sibelius with a lively Wennäkoski opener

Robin Ticciati
© Benjamin Ealavoga

Robin Ticciati (conductor)

Miina-Liisa Värelä (soprano)

Shenyang (bass-baritone)

YL Male Voice Choir

London Philharmonic Orchestra

7.30pm, Wednesday 25 March 2026

Royal Festival Hall, London

★★★★

Wennäkoski, Lotta (b.1970): Zelo (world premiere)

Sibelius, Jean (1865-1957): Kullervo

Wennäkoski:

Lotta Wennäkoski, Robin Ticciati & the LPO
© Nick Boston

'Ticciati steered the LPO with energy and panache, with tight ensemble from the strings, deft woodwinds and brass warmth'.

Sibelius:

'Ticciati and the LPO were on fine form'.

'Shenyang’s rich and powerful voice delivered Kullervo’s lines with authority, whilst Värelä’s full-bodied tone gave suitable weight to the sister, and she delivered her more detailed and often rapid text with clarity'.

Shenyang, Miina-Liisa Värelä,
the YL Male Voice Choir & the LPO
© Nick Boston

'(The YL Male Voice Choir) produced a beautifully blended sound, and their pianissimo singing was impressive'. 

'Ticciati was at his most expressive for the big finish finale ... bringing a strong performance of Sibelius’ dramatic proto-symphony to an end'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Shenyang, Miina-Liisa Värelä, Robin Ticciati,
the YL Male Voice Choir & the LPO
© Nick Boston

The BBC Singers at full throttle at Milton Court

The BBC Singers with Sofi Jeannin at Milton Court
© BBC/Mark Allan (2022)

Emma Tring (soprano)

Albert Soriano (tenor)

Iain Farrington (organ)

BBC Singers

BBC Concert Orchestra

Sofi Jeannin (conductor)

7.30pm, Thursday 26 February 2026

Milton Court Concert Hall, London

★★★★

MacMillan, James (b.1959): Who are these angels?

Shaw, Caroline (b.1982): To the Hands

Weir, Judith (b.1954): My Guardian Angel

Rautavaara, Einojuhani (1928-2016): Die erste Elegie

Howells, Herbert (1892-1983): Hymnus Paradisi (orch. Farrington, Iain (b.1977))

'There was much to celebrate in this evening’s demonstration of this outstanding group of singers’ virtuosity, under the assured direction of Sofi Jeannin as she approaches the end of her tenure as Chief Conductor'. 

Shaw:

'The BBC Singers upper voices in particular demonstrated their command with pure and precise onsets in the third section, and all voices communicated the emotion and intent of Shaw’s message with affecting immediacy'.

Rauavaara:

'The BBC Singers were impressively on top of its challenges, from shrieking tenors at the opening to high sopranos emulating violins, and faultless tuning and pitching of leaping intervals'.

Howells:

'The BBC Singers relished the opportunity for much full-throated singing here'.

'This was an impressive performance and a strong showing of the BBC Singers’ continued command and expertise'.  

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Emma Tring, Albert Soriano, Sofi Jeannin,
he BBC Concert Orchestra & the BBC Singers
© Nick Boston