Rud, whose mother was a composer, has a natural affinity with music, evidenced in the fluid execution of her paintings and choice of musical collaborators. The synergy between Rud and percussionist Evelyn Glennie is especially potent. In Vincent Ho’s Nostalgia, Rud imitated the ethereal vibraphone shimmers with squiggly upward brushstrokes that became houses, figures on horseback and otherworldly faces. And in Askell Masson’s Prim, … Read More
James Macmillan: ‘Veni, Veni, Emmanuel’ | UK Review: The Guardian
The Rest Is Noise festival, which has surveyed 20th century music at London’s Southbank Centre throughout the calendar year, has succeeded in fits and starts. This London Philharmonic Orchestra concert under Vladimir Jurowski, however, has to count as one of its more unconditional achievements. It is hard to imagine such a well-prepared concert, devoted entirely to orchestral music from the … Read More
Randolph Peters: ‘Musicophilia’ | North America review: Blouin Artinfo
Dame Evelyn Glennie listens to music with her whole body, just not with her ears. Though technically deaf, the renowned percussionist developed a technique of playing with the vibrations in her instruments and environment, and after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1985, she pioneered a career as the first full-time solo percussionist in the world. She … Read More
Randolph Peters: ‘Musicophilia’ | North America Review: The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Symphony launched its 2013/14 season — officially its 95th — Saturday at the Orpheum with relaxed confidence and optimism. A ceremonial, celebratory mood was enhanced by an evening free of heavyweight standard repertoire and by a brand-new commission. Start-up concerts come with obligatory add-ons — in this case the national anthem and a protracted spate of speeches, all … Read More
Eric Ewazen: Concerto for Marimba & Strings | UK Review: Cambridge News
There is a stone of white marble on the Cambridge Backs, tucked beneath a tree in King’s College, which bears a short rhyming poem by Xu Zhimo. “Quietly now I leave the Cam,” the poet begins (in Silas Brown’s translation), tendering a farewell to the river, the city, and “the clouded Western sky aflame.” Zhimo’s poem conveys not only the … Read More
Áskell Másson: ‘Konzertstücke’ & Jennifer Higdon: Percussion Concerto | UK Review: Shropshire Star
Music is a gift and the Llangollen Eisteddfod brought three incredibly gifted musicians to the Royal International Pavilion last night. Percussionist, Dame Evelyn Glennie, the Royal harpist Claire Jones and rising opera star, Noah Stewart brought three different genres to the stage. Dame Evelyn opened the concert when, accompanied by the Eisteddfod’s own orchestra, she showed us her talents as … Read More
James Macmillan: ‘Veni, Veni, Emmanuel’ | UK Review: The Scotsman
In one epic programme celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra had a package most orchestras would spread over several concerts. Not only that, this awesome playlist – from Elgar to Wagner overtures via three heavyweight concertos – was put together in just two weeks. The task was made easier by the fact that three mainstream conductors – Donald Runnicles, … Read More
Alexis Alrich: Marimba Concerto & Vivaldi: Piccolo Recorder Concerto in C |UK Review: Bachtrack
[Glennie gave] an electric performance of composer Alexis Alrich’s Marimba Concerto, its UK première. World-premièred in Hong Kong in 2009 by the Hong Kong City Orchestra, this action-packed piece injected fresh energy into the whole room. It is one of the most interesting concert compositions I have seen on stage in Bristol and it stole the show. Alrich’s style, “California Impressionism”, … Read More