A fitting tribute to Knussen in the Knussen Chamber Orchestra's Proms debut - Proms at ... Cadogan Hall 8

Ryan Wigglesworth
© Benjamin Ealovega

Knussen Chamber Orchestra
Ryan Wigglesworth (piano, conductor)

Monday 9 September, 1pm

Proms at ... Cadogan Hall 8
Cadogan Hall, London

★★★★





Oliver Knussen (1952-2018): ... upon one note - Fantasia after Purcell

Sir Harrison Birtwistle (b.1934): Fantasia upon all the notes

Freya Waley-Cohen (b.1989): Naiad

Knussen: Study for 'Metamorphosis'

Hans Abrahamsen (b.1983): Herbstlied

Alastair Putt (b.1983): Halazuni

Knussen: Songs without Voices


Waley-Cohen:
'A Copland-esque woodwind duet emerges, over glassy violin harmonics ... bringing this highly atmospheric piece to a quiet, contemplative conclusion'.

Knussen:
'Davies performed here with understated engagement, concluding with impressive control on the final sustained high notes'.

Putt:
'The repeating arabesque decoration is highly effective, as are the cascading, overlapping lines and the strangely keening horn and bassoon over flute flutters'.

'An impressive Proms debut from the Knussen Chamber Orchestra in a challenging range of contemporary chamber music, and a fitting tribute to Knussen himself'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Impressive and inspiring Anglo-American cooperation - BBC Prom 6

Edward Gardner
© Chris Christodoulou

James Ehnes (violin)
Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music and The Juilliard School
Edward Gardner (conductor)

Monday 22 July, 7.30 pm

BBC Prom 6

Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★★


Anna Thorvaldsdottir (b.1977): Metacosmos (UK premiere)

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): Violin Concerto, Op. 15

Encore:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Andante, from Sonata in A minor for solo violin, BWV1003

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): The Rite of Spring

Encore:
Oliver Knussen (1952-2018): Flourish with Fireworks, Op. 22

Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Edward Gardner
& the Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music
and The Julliard School
© Chris Christodoulou

Thorvaldsdottir:
'A remarkable piece, showing such command of large orchestral forces ... unsettlingly moving'.

Britten:
'Ehnes held the Royal Albert Hall rapt ... he delivered the preceding Scherzo with flourish and a dancing step'.

Stravinsky:
'Gardner marshalled forces for the final onslaught and elicited a wild, terrifying final sacrificial dance from the massed orchestral forces'.

Knussen:
'The combined student forces demonstrated considerable virtuosic command to conclude an impressive night’s performance'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Imaginative and intelligent programming from the Britten Oboe Quartet

© Eric Richmond

The Britten Oboe Quartet performed a varied programme as part of the Strings Attached Coffee Concerts series.

Britten Oboe Quartet
Nicholas Daniel - oboe/cor anglais
Jacqueline Shave - violin
Clare Finnimore - viola
Caroline Dearnley - cello






Elgar - Andante and Allegro for Oboe and String trio
Knussen - Cantata for Oboe and String Trio
Mozart - Adagio for Cor Anglais and String Trio, K580a
Britten - Phantasy for Oboe and String Trio in F minor, Op. 2
Lutyens - O Absalom, Op. 122
L. Berkeley - String Trio, Op. 19
Mozart - Oboe Quartet in F major, K370

Brighton Corn Exchange, Sunday 22 February 2015.

'The smooth liquid tones of Daniel’s cor anglais was the perfect palate cleanser'.

'They took the recapitulation from a delightfully controlled pianissimo to a rousing yet poised finish'.
'An imaginative and intelligent programme, performed with great commitment and a real desire to communicate'.


Read my full review here.