The Guardian

Staging of Stockhausen’s helicopter string quartet scores key prize

Royal Philharmonic Society praises rare performance of Mittwoch aus Licht by Birmingham Opera Company

The Telegraph

Singing in English: It’s harder than you think

Rupert Christiansen visits The Association of English Singers and Speakers to explore the many difficulties of singing in English.

The Times

Rossini’s opera, La donna del lago heads a tartan takover at ROH

Not many opera directors would admit that their latest production had been inspired by Mel Gibson’s Braveheart or the preposterous sci-fi fantasy Highlander

The Times of India (via Musical Chairs)

Letter found from Britain’s greatest opera composer’s drawer shows his love for Ravi Shankar

Curators sifting through thousands of objects belonging to Britain’s musical geniuses composer Benjamin Britten and opera singer Peter Pears have stumbled upon an ink written page in their private diaries where the duo recalls their experience of having heard Pandit Ravi Shankar perform live.

BBC News

How does the oldest grand piano sound?

The oldest-surviving English grand piano, one of the first ever made, was built by the piano maker Americus Backers in London in 1772 and has now been returned by English Heritage to the home of its former owner, the Duke of Wellington.

Classical Source

Barbican Launches Beyond Barbican With A Summer Of World-Class Arts Across East London

The Barbican today launches Beyond Barbican with a summer of arts events outside the walls of the Barbican Centre featuring pop-up performances, commissions and collaborations across east London.

Limelight Magazine

Arts proven to combat Alzheimers

New British study proves the benefits of the Arts in treating patients with debilitating mental disease.

Gramophone

Dame Janet Baker hosts the 2013 RPS Awards

Awards for Karabits, Philharmonia and the Heath Quartet

The Telegraph

(Written on May 15, 2013 )

As there are so many fantastic concerts, venues and opportunities to hear live music throughout London, we thought we should let YOU know where they are all occurring. This week is a ‘last-minute’ special, featuring events that are occurring within the next few immediate weeks.

Where? 100 Club, Oxford Street

When? Tuesday 9^th November, 19.30

The internationally renowned cellist Natalie Clein takes classical music to a Rock and Roll setting in the dynamic 100 Club.  A variety of artists have performed here in the club’s fifty year history, from The Sex Pistols to Oasis; now it is classical music’s turn!  Natalie is joined by The Sabina Rackcheyeva Ensemble: an improvisatory group of musicians who fuse elements of Western and Eastern musical together to create a captivating artistic hybrid.  Tickets are available for £10/£8 online and £12/£10 on the door.

Where? Ray’s Jazz at Foyles, W2CH 0BE

When? Friday 12th November, 18:00 – FREE EVENT!

As part of the London Jazz Festival, Trish Clowes is performing on the first night of the 2 week festival for FREE at the café in Foyles. Being a young, fresh musician, she will be leading her dynamic ensemble through richly harmonic originals, as featured in her latest Basho album. It’s a lovely intimate venue with a relaxed, laid back feel and as it’s free it may be busy, so make sure you come down early!

Where? Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre

When? Wednesday 17th November, 19.30

The LPO under Kazushi Ono play a luscious programme of late nineteenth century and early twentieth century works: Richard Strauss’ sublime Death and Transfiguation, Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder with contralto Nathalie Stutzmann, and Ravel’s Suites Nos. 1 and 2 from Daphnis et Chloé. After this concert members can enjoy a free drink courtesy of Heineken, all for only £8.00! Tickets can be ordered by calling 020 7840 4242 and quoting ‘Noise Under 26′.

Where? Royal Opera House

When? From now – 17th November, 18:30

Shakespeare’s tragedy of doomed young love receives a wonderful interpretation in Gounod’s opera. It combines all the drama of the well-known story and the emotional and stirring music typical of the composer of Faust. Not presented by The Royal Opera for a decade, Nicolas Joël’s production is revived with a fantastic cast conducted by French specialist Daniel Oren, and that has Piotr Beczala and Nino Machaidze/María Alejandres as the star-crossed lovers. There are cheap £10 student tickets for some of these performances and the WildKat team are all heading down to see this one for ourselves!

(Written on November 8, 2010 )

Living or being near London offers so many opportunities to see some truly spectacular performances that occur across the city every day –the WildKat team have collaborated some information on the top performances that are a must see for the next few weeks! Keep watching for bi-weekly updates.

What? The Mosaic Ensemble

Where? The Forge – our favourite venue!

When? Sunday 12th September 2010 (click here to purchase tickets!)

• Mozart Oboe Quartet Op.370,
• Stich (Punto) Horn Quartet,
• Devienne Bassoon Quartet in C Major Op.73, No.1,
• Stamitz Clarinet Quartet in E Flat Op.19, No.1

Mosaic Ensemble was founded in 2009 by a group of exceptional young musicians who met as members of Southbank Sinfonia, Britain’s young professional orchestra.  They formed with a view to exploring the expansive repertoire for mixed wind and strings, making full use of the breadth and versatility of the chamber music repertoire from Nonets to Trios.  Members of the ensemble have performed chamber works together as part of the Royal Opera House lunchtime chamber music series and at the Anghiari Festival in Tuscany. This small ensemble in an intimate, up and coming venue promises to be a huge success!

What? Artemis Quartet

Where? Wigmore Hall

When? Tuesday 14th September 2010 (click here to purchase tickets!)

• Beethoven
• String Quartet in A Op. 18 No. 5
• String Quartet in G Op. 18 No. 2
• String Quartet in E minor Op. 59 No. 2 ‘Razumovsky’

The distinguished Berlin-based Artemis String Quartet, which recently celebrated its 20th birthday, brings the Wigmore Hall’s Anniversary Season Opening Celebrations to a close with the continuation of the complete Beethoven string-quartet cycle, charting Beethoven’s development across 30 years of composing in a form that demonstrates his great innovations in expressive development. A classic programme in a prestigious venue – most enjoyable!

What? La Bohème

Where? Wilton’s Music Hall

When? 16th & 18th September 2010 (Click to here purchase tickets!)

Featuring: Co-Opera-Co, Stephen Higgins (Conductor), Michael Scott (Tenor: Rodolfo), Mariya Krywaniuk (Soprano: Mimì).

Quite an obvious choice, Puccini is the master of Italian operas and I would never miss an opportunity to see the romance unravel between Rodolfo and Mimì, and like most operas ending in death. A company called Co-Opera-Co puts on the opera and the venue is also the world’s oldest Music Hall. Wilton’s Music Hall is a truly magical and beautiful venue that offers so much more than a performance but an experience. (The English National Opera are also putting on a production of La Bohème at The London Coliseum, October).

What? Max Richter performs ‘infra’

Where? Cadogan Hall

When? Saturday 17th September 2010 (click here to purchase tickets!)

For one night only, this unique performance comes to Cadogan Hall. Originally conceived as a Royal Ballet-commissioned collaboration between composer Max Richter, choreographer Wayne McGregor and artist Julian Opie, Max Richter’s gorgeous score to ‘infra’ was written in autumn 2008 and premiered in November of the same year at The Royal Opera House in London. Expanded and extended from the original piece, it comprises music written for piano, electronics and string quintet. Richter’s work on the ballet came initially from McGregor’s invitation, a request for 25 minutes of music for his piece, inspired by T.S. Elliot’s ‘The Wasteland’. The process of collaboration between the two men was filmed for a BBC documentary. An active collaborator in other media, Max received The European Film Award last year for his work on ‘Waltz with Bashir’, Ari Forman’s Oscar-nominated animated documentary. Without a doubt, this is a must see!

What? The Pearl Fishers (Les Pêcheurs de Perles)

Where? Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

When? 4th & 7th October 2010 (Click here to purchase tickets!)

Featuring: Royal Opera,  Antonio Pappano (Conductor), Nicole Cabell (Soprano: Leila), John Osborn (Tenor: Nadir).

Bizet is one of the most famous French composers of opera, his two most successful works being Carmen and The Pearl Fishers. The most famous work from this opera being the duet of friendship Au fond du temple saint between Zurga and Nadir. Not only is the music captivating and but the Royal Opera company whose production this is has to be one of the most prestigious in the world. The performers are guaranteed to give a phenomenal evening.

(Written on August 16, 2010 )