http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/ Hereford Times /leisure/reviews/ en-gb Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:34:57 +0100 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:34:57 +0100 http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/rssterms/ M6 nvincent@newsquest.co.uk webmaster@digitalmedia.newsquest.co.uk http://www.herefordtimes.com/resources/images/528251/?type=rsslogo http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/ http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/3645597.Presteigne_pulls_in_crowds_with_a_packed_programme/ THIS year’s Presteigne Festival was a resounding success with audience capacity running at 87%. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:48:55 +0100 a0630ebaa4f9bac994ee3c651bc49f13 http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/3629145.Engaging_eccentricity_in_Malvern/ DYSFUNCTIONAL families are often at the heart of drama and Born in the Gardens, currently showing at Malvern’s Festival Theatre, is no exception. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:59:09 +0100 52debe3ba8818eb22d1a2685486fc0ad http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/3621318.Love_and_lust/ Howard Ferguson wrote his Overture for an Occasion (Opus 16) for the 1953 Coronation, and it certainly got ‘Love and Lust’off to a rousing start, Expertly orchestrated, with touches of Walton, Elgar, Vaughan-Williams and Eric Coates thrown in, it makes a great opener and is definitely a work to hear again. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:07:43 +0100 65ea0563b2d1974d966d7d3eb1405c91 http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/3621317.A_concert_of_contrasts/ You might naturally assume that the cynical and sometimes pessimistic poetry of AE Housman would lead to its being set to music in a similar vein. You would be wrong, as tenor Adrian Thompson, along with players from the Philharmonia Orchestra, proved in his Huntingdon Hall recital. The two works performed, Vaughan-Williams’ cycle On Wenlock Edge and Ludlow and Teme, Ivor Gurney’s cycle from 1919, combined very well in spite of their stylistic difference and it was interesting to hear the same poetry evoking quite different musical responses. Both are settings of lines from Housman’s A Shropshire Lad and both are scored for the same combination of voice, piano and string quartet, and neither met with Housman’s approval – he particularly hated the Vaughan-Williams work. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:07:21 +0100 21e4fc35e36bcf8ca3cf9a5177c725dd http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/3621301.Tha_animals_came_in_two_by_two/ Britten’s Noyes Fludde may have been written for children and amateurs, but the performance recently at The Three Choirs Festival in Worcester’s Baptist Church by the Singworks course confirmed that opera can be serious and at the same time a very enjoyable event for people of all ages, audience included. The score contains some novel and startling innovative effects. We had gangs of children, artfully disguised as all sorts of animals, a handbell choir, several groups of mostly amateur orchestral players, together with three central roles: God (spoken), Noah and Mrs Noah. Robert Swinton’s speaking part, delivered from a side balcony, was solemn yet effective, while William Coleman’s very well-presented Noah was suitably contrasted by Claire Stoneman’s Mrs Noah as his henpecking wife, and both their roles were acted and sung with care and an obvious enjoyment of the wonderful music. Even the capacity audience were induced to join in, which we all did with gusto. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:06:28 +0100 eab31b1bac380478847f28fa4ae5ea9c http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/3612237.Tenor_takes_Three_Choirs_festival_by_storm/ TENOR James Gilchrist is blessed with a wonderful lyric voice, a pianissimo which must be the envy of his fellows, and a warm and engaging platform manner. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:14:34 +0100 dc2b7f6e0edc5c50532a8bcccda8488f http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/3573194.Dr_Who_and_Hamlet/ David Tennant stars in the title role of the RSC's new production at Stratford-upon-Avon Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:28:20 +0100 2b51610b12a5ea81a6c9278020858e25 http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/3570272.Leonard_Cohen_at_the_Big_Chill/ Forty one years after The Songs of Leonard Cohen, the legendary performer headlines in Herefordshire Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:30:30 +0100 7d29e34987671460adbd7f5df3b8816a http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/3203314.Spectacular_setting_for_dramatic_dance/ THE setting was spectacular, the music spine-tingling, the dancing mesmerising ... and the weather, against all expectations, was kind as Forbidden - a tale of love and war, Dancefest’s latest impressive production was performed at Goodrich Castle last Thursday. Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:14:38 +0100 1ba13846584c39bd8a90d7971456035e http://www.herefordtimes.com/leisure/reviews/3201401.Limitless_artistry/ THE second of Hereford Cathedral’s Gala Organ Concerts was given on Tuesday evening by the world-renowned organist Dame Gillian Weir. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:12:33 +0100 1ac662d18c0a323bba9500b1ee03bfd9