Author Archives

I saw Corelli today…

yes! conducting his big orchestra. Distorted face, looking like he is dying on stage, rolling eyes, jumping, making everybody move … as he moves, breathe … as he breathes, jump … as he blinks, cry … as he raises his eyebrow… and does magic with his bow. He goes by the name of Enrico Onofri [...]

Dancing Bach

After the great concert by Hantaï last Sunday, I couldn’t help ordering some of his CDs… Besides his Scarlatti Sonatas and Bach’s Le Clavier bien tempéré and Goldberg variations (all heaven!), I got his version of the Bach Suites 1 & 4 (with him conducting Le Concert Français): a masterpiece, and hard to refrain from [...]

More Lufthansa Festival: The afternoon concerts “chronicle”

As a Madrilian, I heard a lot of Scarlatti music when I was living in my home town. Unfortunately most of it badly played (lots of it on the piano), sounding bland, dull, and cheesy. That put me off Scarlatti for a very long time. Pretty much until today. I am deeply grateful to Pierre [...]

Fountain of the Baroque, keep running, please!

The first concert of this year’s Lufthansa Baroque Festival: La Venexiana enchanted the audience with a truly extraordinary performance of the Vespers, such an amazingly beautiful piece that opened 400 years (so far ;-) of Baroque music. Thank you, Monteverdi!
The concert was recorded by BBC Radio 3 and will be broadcast in “Performance on 3″ [...]

Teatro d’Amore by L’Arpeggiata

Although this is not a new recording, I just came across it following up on links to the astonishing countertenor Philippe Jaroussky. Mesmerizing music (by Monteverdi), mesmerizing voice, mesmerizing performance, don’t miss the video they have on their website.

2010 Spring Music and Summer Dance in the UK

The programs of the 2010 Lufthansa Baroque Music Festival (May) and the 19th Consort de Danse Baroque International Summer School (August) are out: have a look!

Weekend Baroque dance classes (London) start this weekend (October 3/4)

Philippa Waite’s weekend Baroque dance classes in London start properly this weekend, Saturdays in Barnes, Sundays in Camden. Also ongoing classes on Mondays and Tuesdays. If interested in receiving news about Philippa’s dance classes in London or other UK locations, you can subscribe to the Consort de Danse Baroque’s feed.

Truly amazing Baroque dance Summer School by Philippa Waite

Yes, truly amazing it was. My first time to attend this international Summer school organized by Philippa Waite and the Consort de Danse Baroque, now in its 18th edition, that took place in Cardiff on August 21-31 (http://www.ukbaroquedance.com/summer/course.html). Divided in three 3-day modules, all of them open to all levels—from the complete beginner to the [...]

The 2009 Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music (London)

The 2009 London Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music is about to start; it runs May 14-23, and the venues are St. John’s, Smith Square and Westminster Abbey. Information and booking here. We’ll definitely be attending some of the concerts!

Jordi Savall

Breathtaking Jordi Savall at the Wigmore Hall this evening. We (all - the entire hall) left speechless and with red hands from clapping so much. Full stop.