A triumphant Esther from Cummings at the London Handel Festival's Spring Awakenings

Esther at London Handel Festival
© Sisi Burn

Laurence Cummings (Director)

Nardus Williams (Esther)

Tim Mead (Ahasuerus)

Jess Dandy (Mordecai)

Florian Störtz (Hanan)

Rachel Redmond (Israelite Woman & Second Israelite)

Laurence Cummings (First Israelite)

John Bowen (Habdonah)

Edmund Hastings (An Officer)

London Handel Singers

London Handel Players

7pm, Thursday 14 March 2024

London Handel Festival

St George's, Hanover Square, London

★★★★

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): Esther, HWV50 (1732 version)

The London Handel Festival
© Nick Boston

'Cummings set the tone, launching the overture at a sprightly pace, with a bright, joyful sound from the tight ensemble. As expected, there were some cracking speeds this evening, but there was also tenderness and grace, with deft string work, elegant woodwind and gleaming brass'. 

'Nardus Williams' Esther had powerful presence, delivering her opening virtuosic “Alleluia” from the pulpit with assertive brilliance'.

'Jess Dandy give us deeply fruity tones as Mordecai, as well as opening up expressively in her upper registers in “So much beauty, sweetly blooming”'.

'The London Handel Singers showed their skill throughout, expertly delivering the key dramatic mood shifts'. 

'Tim Mead’s Alleluias in the final chorus ... were breathtaking in their virtuosic display. Combined with glorious brass and triumphant choral singing, joined at the very end by all the soloists, they brought the evening to a stupendous finish'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Prom 50 - Cummings and the AAM bring the house down with Samson at the Proms

Laurence Cummings conducts the Academy of Ancient Music
© BBC/Sisi Burn

Allan Clayton (Samson)

Jacquelyn Stucker (Dalila)

Joélle Harvey (Israelite Woman)

Jess Dandy (Micah)

Brindley Sherratt (Harapha)

Jonathan Lemalu (Manoa)

Will Pate (Messenger)

Philharmonia Chorus

Academy of Ancient Music

Laurence Cummings (harpsichord/director)

7pm, Wednesday 23 August, 2023

BBC Prom 50

Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★★

Allan Clayton & the Academy of Ancient Music
© BBC/Sisi Burn

Handel, George Frideric (1685-1759): Samson (1741-2, rev. 1743)

'The Philharmonia Chorus’ performance was totally convincing'. 

'Clayton’s Samson was unflinching in rejecting Dalila’s pleas, but showed vulnerability too, never afraid to sing incredibly quietly, lamenting the “Total eclipse” of his sight with heartbreaking pianissimo control on the words “no moon”'.

'Stucker’s Dalila was bright-toned and full of self-righteousness, her “plaintive notes” more wheedling than sensuous, but beautiful nevertheless'. 

Brindley Sherratt & the Academy of Ancient Music
© BBC/Sisi Burn

Dandy:

'When Cummings kept the players back, her rich tone was allowed to shine through, with particular expression of pain in her long-held “griefs” in “Return, oh God of hosts”'.

'Brindley Sherratt was in danger of stealing the show as Harapha, his arresting presence dominating the stage as he strode on, delivering his first recit from memory'.

Jacquelyn Stucker & Joélle Harvey
© BBC/Sisi Burn

Cummings & the AAM:

' consistently energetic presence, he commanded the combined forces with enthusiasm, making for a memorably magnificent performance'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.