A huge compression of grinding guitar riffs and stupefying bass, only upstaged on occasion by drumming that reminds me of the time my pet frog was squashed by seven falling refrigerators. Paul Ferguson, Amazon Review of Thrak by King Crimson, February 2003 I hope Paul’s frog survived. In case you are wondering whether Paul liked the album, …
Review – Poulenc Dialogues des Carmélites
RNCM soloists, chorus and orchestra RNCM Manchester Saturday 14 December 2019 A stunning staging of Poulenc's emotional opera **** This was the final performance of the RNCM's staging of Poulenc's opera, Dialogues des Carmélites, set in a Carmelite monastery during the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution. It's a deeply religious work appearing towards …
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Review – Devin Townsend and Haken
Devin Townsend Haken (support) Albert Hall, Manchester Tuesday 10 December 2010 Devin Townsend ***** Haken **** A deluge of Biblical proportions hit central Manchester in the early evening on Tuesday. Devin Townsend promised us a brief escape from torrential rain and the torrent of political uncertainty outside. Haken stood proud, two of them poised like …
Review – Manchester Collective: The Centre is Everywhere
Manchester Collective The White Hotel, Salford Saturday 30 November 2019 A stunning concert of metamorphosis and a curious incident of a dog in the night time ***** The White Hotel in Salford is neither a hotel nor is it white (more like a little off-white). It’s a former car repair garage, now a night club. …
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Sir Stephen Cleobury, my Father and the Meaning of Christmas
When I think of Sir Stephen Cleobury who has just died my image of him is conducting the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Cambridge on Christmas Eve. © Kevin Leighton/King's College, Cambridge The festival of Christmas was central to my relationship with my Father who died twenty-five years ago. I always used to listen to …
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Review – Björk Cornucopia Tour
02 Arena, London Tuesday 19 November 2019 A Cornucopia of Riches **** What did I just experience? Was it a gig? (a term now debased anyway as it’s often linked with the word ‘economy’) Was it a show? A multimedia experience? Certainly, it was a fascinating glimpse into the mind of Björk Guðmundsdóttir. Nobody calls her that now …
Review – Martinů The Greek Passion
Nicky Spence as Manolios with the Chorus of Opera North, The Greek Passion © Tristram Kenton Opera North The Lowry, Salford Saturday 16 November 2019 A visually striking production of a topical drama **** ‘The poor are always with us’. So are refugees, and Martinů’s message in his opera the Greek Passion is both topical and timeless. The …
How I found Steven Wilson
Steven Wilson is known as ‘The most successful British musician most people have never heard of’. So how did I find him? In February 2009, Steven Wilson did something uncharacteristically violent; he destroyed five iPods. He shot the first one, smiling ‘wow’ when he hit it first time, but sensibly wearing ear defenders. He took …
