Last week’s two-night run of Sacrifices, by Vignette Productions and La Nuova Musica, directed by Andrew Staples, has this week been praised in its reviews in the press. The modern setting and simplicity of direction was seen as ‘wholly appropriate’ to the intricate works of Charpentier and Carissimi, praise indeed for Andrew’s work (Exeunt Magazine).

Sacrifices was performed in Shoreditch Town Hall, as part of the Spitalfields Music Summer Festival, a venue which was ‘resonant enough to fill out the sound without swamping it’, an important factor for such a dark yet moving performance (The Evening Standard).

The Evening Standard celebrated La Nuova Musica for providing musicality and colour ‘of often heartbreaking poignancy’, whilst uplifting all of the performers and musicians as ‘exquisite’.

The direction by Andrew, ‘a fine tenor branching into theatre direction’ (The Times) was commended for drawing ‘poingnant, assured performances from the young actors and singers’, also noting the skill with which they performed the difficult polyphony entirely from memory. The Times also individually celebrated the soprano Sophie Junker for her performance of Jephte’s Daughter in the Carissimi work, in particular the ‘touchingly sung’ lament before she is tragically sacrificed; whilst Exeunt Magazine noted Sophie’s fellow soprano Augusta Hebbert for being both confident and engaging.

Andrew’s triumphant work at Spitalfields was applauded as a whole, with the ‘clever linking’ of the two works bringing them up to date and making them relevant to today’s society, in an ultimate portrayal that, even now, Sacrifice can ultimately never be evaded (The Times).

La Nuova Musica in Rehearsal at Shoreditch Town Hall

(Written on June 20, 2012 )

The second set of concerts in the Belcea Quartet’s Beethoven cycle, once again went down a storm with audience and critics alike.  Some of the highlights include:

The Guardian

“…the Belceas still play like a young quartet, seizing the music’s energy, shocking us out of our seats with every fortissimo. There’s a huge range of colour in their quieter playing”

The Evening Standard

“The B flat Quartet, op. 18 no.6, was bursting with wit, lyricism and elegance of style; rhythms were buoyant, ensemble flawless and the overlapping dialogues seamless.”

Planet Hugill

“This was an impressive concert, serious in intention and big on achievement. The audience in the packed Wigmore Hall was rightly enthusiastic. And we have more to come!”

Boulezian

“The Belcea enthralled not only in the lively, Haydnesque opening movement, with a touch of Mozart here and there, but also in subsequent intimations of what we have come to consider ‘late Beethoven’. ”

Classical Source

“This second Wigmore Hall visit in the Belcea Quartet’s touring Beethoven cycle proved to be as riveting as the first; the programme, mixing early, middle and late works as enlightening as ever.”

You can also read more about the rehearsal styles of the quartet in this week’s Classical Music Magazine and the decision to leave EMI in Music Week Magazine.  The concert will be available to listen to on BBC Radio 3 on December 11th.  Stay in touch with the Quartet via their website or facebook.

(Written on December 5, 2011 )