Reviews
Amicus Orchestra/Larsen-Maguire (soloists: Catriona Hewitson - soprano and Lauren Reeve-Rawlings - French horn), New Auditorium, RSNO Centre, 13th February 2022:
Beethoven - Egmont Overture
Strauss - Horn Concerto no. 1
Mahler - Symphony no. 4
- review by Keith Bruce for VoxCarnyx, 14th February 2022
https://voxcarnyx.com/2022/02/14/amicus-orchestra-larsen-maguire/?fbclid=IwAR252aQf16P5X5BtfU4c5LYqvD6uPU1UVfrayGpomJLxv8OBLE2kHv_3Uw0
Amicus Orchestra/Larsen-Maguire, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow, 13th October 2019:
Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto no. 1
Shostakovich - Symphony no. 10
- review by Keith Bruce for The Herald, 15th October 2019:
https://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/17970693.review-amicus-orchestra-larsen-maguire-royal-conservatoire-scotland-glasgow/
'Romantic Tchaikovsky and a chilling Shostakovich 10 from the Amicus Orchestra' by David Smythe for bachtrack.com - 15th October 2019
https://bachtrack.com/review-amicus-fischer-dieskau-larsen-maguire-glasgow-october-2019
'Amicus Orchestra brings summer sunshine to Glasgow’s West End Festival' by David Smythe for bachtrack.com - 16th June 2019
https://bachtrack.com/review-humperdinck-bruch-dvorak-baxter-ringborg-amicus-orchestra-glasgow-june-2019
- Glasgow’s West End Festival is a cornucopia of some 400 events throughout June including comedy, historical walks, theatre and all sorts of music with a large classical content. The range covers orchestras, recitals, choral works and even a non-religious event for the pure enjoyment of singing Big Hymns. As part of the festival, the splendid Scottish Diaspora Tapestry was on display round the walls of St Mary’s Cathedral, an atmospheric setting for Amicus Orchestra’s summer concert.
https://bachtrack.com/review-amicus-larsen-maguire-hovhannisyan-glasgow-june-2018
- Review of 'Amicus Orchestra meets NYOS' - Strauss: Four Last Songs and Mahler: Symphony no. 1 - Amicus Orchestra's 10th anniversary celebratory concert (conductor: Catherine Larsen-Maguire, soloist: Anush Hovhannisyan) in Bute Hall, University of Glasgow on Sunday 17th June 2018 by David Smythe for bachtrack.com:-
- Review of Fife Opera's production of Mozart's 'Magic Flute' at the Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy on Sat 4th Nov 2017:
'All credit to Fife Opera for bringing their staging off with such success. Under the guidance of conductor Alistair Digges, the orchestral
standards were remarkably high with the band led by St Andrew's-based Francesco Scattolin. It was all naturally paced and featured
many lovely instrumental solos from the pit' - from Opera Scotland, http://www.operascotland.org/tour/3961/Magic-Flute-2017
- Review of Meadows Chamber Orchestra concert (conductor: Peter Evans, soloists: Peter Evans & Jack Westwell) at the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh in June 2017 by Hugh Kerr: click here
- Review of Dunbar Choral's 'Opera Gala' (conductor: Vaughan Townhill) in Dunbar Parish Church, Dunbar, May 2017 by John Cairns: click here
- Review of J S Bach's St John Passion in Dunbar Parish Church in May 2016 by Dunbar Choral conducted by Vaughan Townhill:
"...The first of the solo reflections with the intricate woodwind accompaniment fell to the alto, Katrine Townhill. The talent of the woodwind section with the solo cellist and harpsichord continuo supporting her rich delivery was clearly going to be demonstrated as the story unfolded. Bach then offers the soprano soloist the chance to show her skill. Susan Hamilton obliged with perfection in her joyful declaration to follow her Lord and Master, matched by the skilful flute accompaniment "
- from review by David Affleck for the East Lothian Courier
- Review of concert in Dunbar Parish Church with the Dunbar Choral in May 2014 conducted by Vaughan Townhill:
- from review by John Cairns
- Review of 'An Evening of Movies and Musicals at Christmas', Usher Hall, Edinburgh, November 2012 :-
"An oustanding five-star show with compelling performances by some to the UK's finest performers... the 65-piece orchestra and 160-strong choir performed beautifully...the evening was sensational. It may have had a slow start... but the perfomances by stage stars Ruthie Henshall, John Owen Jones, Fiona Kelly and Keith Jack were engrossing, engaging and affecting. Joining them for the evening were 12 year-old Jack Sullivan who is currently touring as Oliver in the musical of the same name and ten year-old Jessica of Duddingston Primary who won an Edinburgh-wide competition by the Aberlour Trust to perform a stunning rendition of 'I'm Walking in the Air' from The Snowman. The ensemble received a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience for their efforts, uniting to perform an electric finale of 'One More Day' from Les Miserables."
- The Scotsman, November 2012
- Review (translated from the French) of Concert for Peace by the Capital Concert Band, Harmonie Musicale de Thierville and Altoberndorf Music Kapelle in the Theatre de Verdun, France, 22nd October 2011:-
"What an atmosphere! What presence! You had to be in the Theatre of Verdun on Saturday for the Concert for Peace put on by three very high quality bands. These were the Harmonie Musicale de Thierville, the Altoberndorf Music Kapelle from Germany and the Capital Concert Band from Edinburgh in Scotland. This concert, put on in the context of the 95th anniversary of the Battle of Verdun, captured all its significance but equally looked towards the future. For more than a year, Mathieu Marchal, Director of the Harmonie Musicale and its Musical Director Paul Ewangue, not to mention members of the council, businessmen and sponsors, worked tirelessly to organise this occasion. For nearly an hour, each band in turn revisited the great international classics, moving from Bizet to Offenbach, from Bernstein to Saint-Saens, from Latman to Hertzer amongst others. Much applauded, the drummers of the Harmonie Musicale impressed with their great professionalism. Also greatly anticipated, the piper of the Scottish band in a fine performance heightened the emotions of the audience. Brought together in a masterly finale, the 150 musicians gave a joint interpretation of several pieces including Marche Lorraine and the European Hymn and were greatly applauded over and over again..."
- from review in Est Republicain, 24 October 2011
- Review of Skye and Lochalsh Orchestra’s performance of Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on “Greensleeves”, April 2010 :–
“…This warmly glowing piece, with its quivering strings and magical solo flute part (beautifully played by Lynne Bulmer), lyrically
evokes a sound picture of Olde England…”- John Swan, West Highland Free Press, 7 May 2010
- Review of Petit Requiem pour Basil on Andrew Keeling's CD 'Blue Dawn', 2007:-
" ...The haunting sound of Rosalind Rawnsley's voice singing and narrating this requiem for the unexpected death of a colleague has a sense of immediacy and resonance like that of a voice in a dream, if that dream is in French. There is genuine shock and sadness in her voice, through the flute and piano work of TripleSec which is appropriately playful and somewhat suggestive in fleeting moments of Debussy's 'Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune'..."
- from review by Billy Sheppard at Billy's Bunker: Music Reviews from the Independent Underground