Email: ReviewsgateReviews@gmail.com
Reviews
Verdi’s Falstaff, Opera North,Theatre Royal, Nottingham, 11 November, 2023. 5*****: William Ruff.
‘Opera North’s Falstaff is a production where all the darts score a bullseye.’
La Traviata – Verdi, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 11 November, 2023, On tour ‘til 25 November, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘A glittering deeply moving performance of a much-loved classic.’
Photo: courtesy of WNO
La Rondine, Opera North, Theatre Royal, Nottingham, 10 November, 2023. 4****: William Ruff.
‘Opera North mines a Puccini rarity and unearths its treasure.’
Scottish Symphony, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 08 November, 2023. 4****: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘Upstairs downstairs, brooding fjords and highland flings; a multifaceted afternoon in the concert hall.’
Photo: Courtesy of CBSO.
Trio Gaspard. Lakeside, Nottingham, 09 November, 2023. 4****: William Ruff.
‘Trio Gaspard: 18th century elegance and 19th century intensity.’
Ainadamar, Osvaldo Golijov, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 07 November, 2023. 5*****: David Gray and Paul Gray.
‘A powerful and thoughtful piece of total theatre.’
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 04 November, 2023. 4****: William Ruff.
‘The Ukrainian national orchestra in music which defies the odds.’
Jayson Gillham, Piano, Lakeside, Nottingham, 02 November, 2023. 5*****: William Ruff.
‘Jaw-dropping pianism from Jayson Gillham.’
Brahms 3, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, CBSO, 01 November, 2023. 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘Intelligent programming results in an evening full of interest and variety.’
Photo Credit: Annette Koroll FOTOS
Sinfonia Viva, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 29 October, 2023. 4****: William Ruff
‘Sinfonia Viva in warm, perceptive performances of favourite pieces for string orchestra.’
Petr Limonov (piano), Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 29 October, 2023. 4****: William Ruff
‘Pianist Petr Limonov impresses across a wide range of musical styles.’
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, 27 October, 2023. 5*****: William Ruff
‘A concert of glorious tunes, virtuoso fireworks and unbridled emotion.’
Chiaroscuro Quartet, Lakeside, Nottingham, 26 October, 2023. 5*****: William Ruff
‘The Chiaroscuro Quartet: playing of wit, elegance and subtlety.’
Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical, Birmingham Hippodrome, 18 October 2023 ‘till 04 November 2023, then on tour ‘till 04 February 2024. 4**** David Gray & Paul Gray
‘Roald Dahl’s sense of wicked fun brought to life in a lively musical adaptation.’
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2, CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 12 October, 2023. 3***: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘Some wonderful, large-scale orchestral playing, but a rather lacklustre piano solo.’
Photo of Jeneba Kanneh-Mason
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 October, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray
‘Strong performances all round in a lively explosion of a show.’
Leonkoro Quartet, Lakeside, Nottingham, 12 October, 2023. 5*****: William Ruff
‘The Leonkoro Quartet: one of the world’s finest chamber ensembles.’
Kazuki Conducts Rachmaninoff, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 04 October, 2023. 4****: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘Exceptionally fine playing of what was, predominantly, some rather less than overwhelming music.’
Photo of Sergei Rachmaninoff
Merchant of Venice: William ShakespeareThe Swan, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford Upon Avon. Runs: 2h 10m , one interval. 5*****: Roderick Dungate.
‘Firm hands, sharp intellects, frightening clarity.’
Thomas Trotter – Celebrating 40 Years as Birmingham City Organist, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 06 October, 2023. 5***** David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘City Organist, Thomas Trotter quite literally “pulls out all the stops”.’