Midlands Classical Music Making

                               ELGAR: SYMPHONY NO.1, IN THE SOUTH                              English Symphony Orchestra, Kenneth Woods                              ESO Records   Even before we begin to listen to this well-intentioned release there is a problem.  Why on earth put the Overture at the end, when listeners might well wish just to sit and ponder the peroration of the Symphony, perhaps while savouring the informative and indeed moving insert-notes? So I shall impose my own playing order, and review Elgar’s In the South Overture first. Th...

  Norman Stinchcombe reviews the latest classical CD releases Strauss, ‘Salome’: Byström, Dalayman, Reuter, Siegel, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra / Gardner (Naxos 2CDs & SACDs) ★★★★ The raison d'etre of Strauss’s once scandalous opera is Salome’s dance of the seven veils. The first question about any opera production is will or won’t the soprano take off her clothes? This 2022 Edinburgh International Festival production was a concert performance and the only naked thing in Salome’s dance was the stage. The music had to do all the work and this performance under Edward Gardner, with the Bergen orchestra at the top of their game, reveals how exciting, disturbing and revealing just the notes can be. Gardner also has a fine cast at his disposal with Malin Byström, world’s reigning Salome, in mesmerising form, salacious, seductive and deadly with a convincingly young-sounding voice. There’s a noble Jochanaan from Johan Reuter and the malicious parents, Herodias (Katarina Dalayman) a...

  JOHN WILSON CONDUCTS RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN AT SYMPHONY HALL                                            By Christopher Morley Anyone who loves the classic stage musicals will have been delighted at the recent CD releases on the Chandos label from John Wilson, conducting the Sinfonia of London in ultra-complete versions of two of the world’s greatest shows, Oklahoma! and Carousel, by Rodgers and Hammerstein Now he and his wonderful orchestra, plus a glittering lineup of soloists, are preparing to bring an evening of those great creators to Symphony Hall. When I speak to him he is recovering from breaking his left arm whilst cycling (stick to the car, I always say), but it will all be all right on the night. I ask him how he would describe the greatness of Richard Ro...