* **Orchestra and Choir of the Age of Enlightenment**
Jonathan Cohen conductor
Anna Dennis soprano
Nick Pritchard tenor (evangelist)
Iestyn Davies countertenor
Hugo Hymas tenor
Florian Stortz bass-baritone (Christus)
Thomas Bauer bass
It’s the start of Passion Marathon! Love the sound of HIP instruments lead by very capable Jonathan Cohen. The singers were a bit rough around the edges but excellent drama and expression. I particularly loved the Evangelist ( Nick Pritchard ) Powerful music this is. Sometimes I have to hold back my tears.
Next up. St. John Passion!
Omar Hakim at Ronnie Scott’s this evening. In a trio with his wife Rachel Z. He is one of the best session drummers in the world - he played on Miles Davis’ ‘Tutu’, was a member of Weather Report, played on Dire Straits’ ‘Brothers in Arms’ and was the main drummer on Daft Punk’s’ ‘Random Access Memories’ ( including his extraordinary drumming on ‘Giorgio by Moroder’).
Utterly brilliant evening with tunes by Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter plus their own songs. His wife is an extraordinary pianist
Kamasi Washington (and his Dad) last night in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre.
I had travelled home from the west coast to the east coast of Ireland for this and was questioning my commitment but thoroughly enjoyed it. Great vibe and very funky at times
Dynamite @PizzaExpress Live last night in Holborn.
Ese and The Vooduu People bringing a nine-piece outfit to jam and swing in the sold out PE-L. Great to see @TheKevster as always…and yes! Let’s make a date soon for the Holy Tavern!
Very nice hat, btw.
Ese & band made some new fans, and invigorated the faithful.
Setlist @steviebee:
Set 1
Sweet Jean
Something Borrowed
How to Spot a Sociopath
Vooduu Chameleon
Silver Spoon
Police and Thieves
Not a Revolution
You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide
Grenfell Blues
Set 2
Dynamite
Look Up
Summer Breeze
Grey/Keep On
Making an Offering
Conjuring Vooduu
Up in Smoke
Pain Fades
The Gentleman Songsters , Wolverhampton UK. Male voice choir with a wide selection of songs, classical, pop, opera, Coldplay, and best of all Flanders and Swan, The Gas Man Cometh. A former colleague is in the choir so we attend when we can. The evening raised £1400 for two local charities.
6 days ago I saw Yunchan Lim play Bach’s Goldberg Variations at the Wigmore Hall and thought it absolutely brilliant. Tonight, I saw Vikingur Olafsson play the same music at the Wigmore Hall and…. It left me in tears. In 45 years of concert going I have never anything so beautiful, so nuanced and so insightful played live. Yunchan Lim showed some absolute pyrotechnics in his performance. However, it is clear that Olafsson can do the virtuosity if required but he has moved beyond that to seek out the heart of the music. It was like listening to 2 different pieces of music - Olafsson’s version was so nuanced and reflective with this utter clarity. @kuma - he came back to explain the change in programme. He had corneal surgery to his right eye that didn’t go well and then the whole of his family came down with flu so he couldn’t rehearse for 2 months. Whatever he plays, go and see him - it will transfix you
@crispyduck Thanks for follow up! Yeah I am trying to get a decent seat at the Orchestra Hall… Maybe I get lucky at the last minute.
Actually I have seen him in Chicago once and thought he was excellent. He had this ease on the stage manner somewhat similar to Glenn Gould. Alas, I can’t remember what he played, tho. So he made a stronger impression as a person than what he played.
Much better than the first time I have heard him conducting classical program at the Concertgebouw. This time around he is more at home with his own band conducting the tunes in his familiar territory. Contrasting to the Matthew Passion we have heard last week, the styling was much more formal. Less passionate tho, I thought all the singers were excellent especially the Evangelist and Soprano who projected fragile vulnerability along with a sensitively played flute in the last Aria.
I am really liking the sound of original instruments more. Particularly 1st and 2nd violin players were perfectly in tune making beautiful bloomy warm tunes together. I thought the all the musicians played equally well.
This was again an excellent sounding Koln Philharmonie. We shall be back there again soon!
