Nottingham The Riot Ensemble October 28 2018 NTU University Hall, Nottingham 3*** Review: William Ruff @ReviewsGate Welcome to the strange world of groundbreaking contemporary music The Riot Ensemble sounds dangerous, so I was careful not to sit too near the front. Slightly disappointingly the eight musicians who make up the ensemble were all very well-behaved: no outlandish costumes, no missiles hurled at the audience. In fact, they looked like a group of serious-minded …
Author: William Ruff
Angela Hewitt: an artist of flawless technique and probing intelligence
A change of conductor and symphony but no shortage of thrills
The Nottingham Philharmonic serve up an invigorating, challenging work-out for the senses
Supremely civilised musical conversations in an exciting new concert venue
Warmth and refinement from the award-winning Esmé Quartet
Piano poetry and pyrotechnics from Ji Liu
A sonic spectacular – with a one-man ballet thrown in
A joyously fruitful collaboration between young UK and Russian musicians
Sounds of the New World: intrepid musicians take their audience on an intriguing musical adventure
Exceptional performances, imaginative programming, superb presentation: all combine to make Southwell an August paradise for music-lovers
The Southwell Festival: close attention to the tiniest details produces thrilling results
Youthful talent and energy in a big, bold, extrovert programme
A Festival of discovery and high-octane emotion – with something for everyone
A glowingly passionate opening to Nottingham’s Chamber Music Festival
The Nottingham Classics season ends with a Mahlerian showpiece spectacular
Nottingham Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment May 16 2019 Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham 5***** Review: William Ruff @ReviewsGate Brightly gleaming Bach infused with grandeur and gaiety It was quite hard to sit still during the OAE’s performance on Thursday of Bach’s four Orchestral Suites. Feet were itching to get onto the dance floor as if an 18th century version of Strictly was in full swing. If you ever think of Bach as …
Sonic thrills abound in Verdi’s Technicolor opera
Nottingham City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra May 3 2019 Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham 5***** Review: William Ruff @ReviewsGate Magical worlds made real with probing intelligence and acute sensitivity Just imagine: a horrible, dragon-clawed monster has pinned you against a tree and is about to turn you to stone. But then you remember you’ve been given a magic feather, so you wave it in the air and a dazzlingly beautiful bird swoops down to …
The stuff of musical legends as youth and deep experience combine