SHAFTESBURY has a new festival, celebrating the baroque, specifically the glorious music of the 17th and 18th centuries. There are concerts, talks and a screening of a film about one of the greatest stars of the period, from 23rd to 28th January, with most events are at Shaftesbury Arts Centre. The festival – the latest…
THERE is little in the way of festive cheer in Benjamin Britten’s opera The Turn of the Screw, but it is a brilliant and thrilling stage version of Henry James’ famous novella – and we all love a good ghost story at Christmas, don’t we! A new production opens at Bath Theatre Royal’s Ustinov Studio…
ANDREAS Scholl, one of the world’s greatest counter-tenors, is coming to St Mary’s Church, Dorchester, on Monday 5th February, for one of only two UK concerts next year. He will be accompanied by his wife, Israeli harpsichordist, pianist, musicologist and composer Tamar Halperin. Their previous recital in 2020 was a memorable concert and, predictably, a…
THE Fitzroy Quartet comes to Dorset and Somerset for the November tour of Concerts in the West to Bridport, Ilminster, Crewkerne and Uplyme, from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th, with a programme of string quartets by Haydn, Szymanowski and Debussy. The Fitzroys are Dan-Iulian Drutac and Jure Smirnov Ostir, violins, Matthew Maguire, viola, and Michael…
A MUSICAL OFFERING: One of the imposing 18th century sets for The Score, designed by Robert Jones, who also designed the costumes. The play stars Brian Cox as Johann Sebastian Bach and is set at the court of Frederick II (The Great). It runs to 28th October.
TRAVEL 400 years back in time on Saturday 14th October for a musical journey that will take the audience from England’s Chapel Royal to the cutting edge of Venetian musical innovation. The Gramophone-nominated Ensemble Pro Victoria will be giving a concert at St Mary’s Church, Dorchester, at 7pm. Led by Humphrey Thompson and Toby Ward…
SALISBURY’S Autumn vocal festival is all ready to Celebrate Voice again from 19th to 28th October in the city, marking its tenth year by welcoming the BBC Singers to the Italianate church in Wilton, and all other events to the Guildhall. Founder and director, Lynsey Docherty is delighted that the festival, which has recently become…
SIX new boy choristers have been admitted to Salisbury Cathedral and four established choristers were promoted to seniors during Evensong on 25th September. Family, friends and sponsors joined the service which was followed by the traditional “bumping” ceremony. Next Sunday will see a similar service at which two girl choristers will be admitted and established…
IT seems hard to believe that it is ten years since the first performances of the Ridgeway Singers and Band, and the anniversary is being celebrated with a concert at Bridport on Sunday 29th October. The group’s concerts of traditional (and new) Dorset songs and tunes feels like an ancient part of the cultural fabric…
STRODE Theatre at Street opened on 5th October 1963 with its first public event, a concert by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and marked the start of its diamond jubilee year with a return visit by the BSO on the actual 60th birthday. The theatre, which is part of Strode College and one of the…