AS I write the rain is cascading down the conservatory window outside our office, so it seems like a good time to picture sun-baked, white painted Greek villages and the warm and mouthwatering flavours of the Mediterranean, evoked by Philippa Davis after two weeks working on the Greek island of Paros … When most families…
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra leader Amyn Merchant Ion Marin: Conductor MAHLER: Symphony No. 6 in A minor THE Romanian conductor Ion Marin was a very late stand-in for an indisposed conductor in BSO performances of Mahler’s 9th symphony in March last year. Reviews of the concerts, including my own, were universally enthusiastic, so it was no…
RECENTLY returning from an America in chaos, where many are openly discussing the current situation as a seismic event as powerful as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Alice Childress’s mid 50s play Trouble in Mind is a bitter reminder of how little has changed. Whatever our political leanings, it seems incredible that a country as vast,…
NO-ONE is interested in the First World War. That’s what Ian Hislop and Nick Newman were told when they pitched the idea of The Wipers Times to a film company back at the start of the 21st century. In the annals of stupid, short-sighted decisions, that is right up there with the publishers who turned…
THE stories of Dr Seuss are staple fare in the US, but have never made it so big this side of the Atlantic. We have Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s musical compendium to thank for introducing the unforgettable characters and magical worlds to generations of British children and their parents. Yeovil Youth Theatre has chosen…
IN 1956, Yeovil Dramatic Society was revived and William Douglas Home’s play The Reluctant Debutante opened in the West End. This story of a waning upper class holding on to creaking traditions of social engineering was the perfect choice for director Andy Wood and his talented Swan Theatre cast to bring the company’s 60th anniversary year…
Haydn: Trumpet Concerto Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 ‘Romantic’ Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, leader Amin Merchant Kirill Karabits: Conductor Tine Thing Helseth: Trumpet ‘ROMANTIC’ is a complicated word, and Bruckner’s use of it to describe his glorious fourth symphony has nothing to do with hearts and flowers and St Valentine’s Day. It is medieval romance that he…
DESPITE several stage adaptations, not to mention at least four films and probably numerous loosely connected TV dramas too, any version of D.H. Lawrence’s classic novel is likely to be the subject of at least a degree of interest, controversy even. This new adaptation, a joint English Touring Theatre and Sheffield Theatres production, was adapted…
Schubert: Symphony No. 5 Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 3 Beethoven: Mass in C Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, leader Amin Merchant Bournemouth Symphony Chorus Nicholas McGegan: Conductor Nicolas Fleury: Horn Kate Royal: Soprano Jennifer Johnston: Mezzo-Soprano Robert Murray: Tenor Alastair Miles: Bass If offered a ride in a time machine, it would be tempting to visit Vienna…
THERE is always a special excitement about going into a packed auditorium with an expectant buzz – and Yeovil’s Octagon was really buzzing with electric anticipation on the opening night of the YAOS autumn production of White Christmas. The large theatre was full and an additional Sunday matinee has been added to the 1st to…