My reviews of concerts in Durham. Full reviews on this page are written exclusively for this site. I generally buy my own tickets for concerts, especially when they are student or local amateur groups.
Durham Opera Ensemble’s unmistakably Spanish Carmen, with strong performances from Sophia Smith Galer, Philippe Durrant, James Quitmann and Clare Ward, and a swelteringly hot orchestra and chorus.
In a dazzlingly inventive and entertaining programme, The Clerks, with organist William Whitehead, explore episodes from the life of Johann Sebastian Bach, telling stories from his youth, putting us into the shoes of his earliest musical colleagues, and filling in some blanks in his own notebook.
Durham Choral Society and Northern Spirit Singers, with soloists Andrew Slater and Rowan Pierce perform Fauré’s heavenly Requiem and Walton’s very earthy Belshazzar’s Feast.
Durham University Choral Society make a big impact in Clare Lawrence-Wills’s first concert as conductor, bounding joyfully through Haydn’s Nelson Mass and giving an absolutely gripping performance of Britten’s cantata ‘St Nicolas’.
It’s not often that you hear Slade and Bruckner in the same concert: Northern Spirit Singers brightened up a gloomy, stormy night with magical Christmas sparkles.
A bright new voice in Durham’s musical as Orchestra Cipriani, a new chamber orchestra conducted by Lewis Wilkinson gave a well-polished and very enjoyable concert of works by Mendelssoh, Beethoven, Malcolm Arnold and Steve Robson.
The rich spread of sixteenth century choral music in miniature, in a short concert given by five singers from Renaissance: Camilla Harris, Jessica Gillingwater, Hugo Hymas, David Le Prevost and Ben Rowarth.
A review of Northern Spirit Singers’ new digital album, Cantus Mundi, a round-the-world tour that takes in Europe, Russia, the Americas, India and Durham showcasing the choir’s talent for both the exciting and the sublime.
A guest review by Julian Wright of Francesca Massey’s new CD Bravura!, a recital of 20th century European organ music, recorded at Durham Cathedral, where she is sub-organist.
Music in Durham brings you classical music listings, previews, reviews and news for Durham, with a bit of random blogging thrown in. The concert listing pages bring together classical music events from across the City and the University, so whether you’re looking for a great concert to go to, or if you’re planning something and want to avoid clashes, this is the place to look.
