A version of this article was originally written for Londonist. Another classical music club promotion, with roots far away from anything resembling a concert hall, is making inroads in London. As widely reported, London has a thriving classical ‘club’ scene, from the candle-on-tables atmosphere of the 100 Club to the experimental, dance-influenced Shoreditch-based operation of Gabriel… [Read more…]
November 21, 2011 by Culture Capital
The Hagen Quartet performs at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Wendesday 23rd November. This article was written for the concert programme. Many legendary chamber ensembles, from the Beaux Arts Trio to the Borodin Quartet, have had long and distinguished careers, but most have to weather the gradual succession of their members over time. The Hagen Quartet, together for 30 years this… [Read more…]
November 5, 2011 by Culture Capital
The BBC Symphony Orchestra and a massed choir, conducted by David Robertson, performed the finale from Beethoven’s ninth on the lower concourse of St Pancras International this week. The event, put on by the Beeb to promote its new TV series on the history of the symphony, drew a mixed crowd of industry people and… [Read more…]
October 24, 2011 by Culture Capital
The growing crop of London orchestras and artists taking classical music out of its traditional context feature heavily in the Roundhouse’s five-day Reverb 2012 festival (24th to 26th February and 4th and 5th March 2012). The inaugural Reverb in 2010 was a success, pulling in good numbers and creating a bit of a buzz, some of which… [Read more…]
October 6, 2011 by Culture Capital
The OAE’s Night Shift revolution continues apace. Following a successful pub debut for the series, the period orchestra wants to embark on a five-date pub tour of east, west, north, south and central London. The thing is, pub promotions lose the band money, so they’re doing a bit of crowd-funding. Click here for more information… [Read more…]
September 5, 2011 by Culture Capital
Southbank Centre hosts a John Cage Night on Tuesday 13 September 2011. Composer, visual artist, writer, philosopher, humorist, mushroom expert: the depth and breadth of John Cage’s engagement with art and ideas was dizzying. “Cage was all about simultaneity and multiplicity, those were words that he lived by,” says Laura Kuhn, Executive Director of the… [Read more…]
September 2, 2011 by Culture Capital
Political protest descended on the Royal Albert Hall last night. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s Proms concert was interrupted by pro-Palestinian hecklers to the extent that BBC Radio 3’s live broadcast was taken off air. Trouble had been anticipated. The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign encouraged a boycott of the concert, citing the orchestra’s relationship with the Israeli… [Read more…]
August 28, 2011 by Culture Capital
Friday 26 August 2011 Arcola Theatre, Dalston, E8 3DL Five years in and the Grimeborn summer opera and music theatre festival in Dalston is gradually becoming part of the fabric of London’s cultural calendar. With its informal but trendy interior (lots of wood and bare brick walls), the Arcola is the perfect venue for this… [Read more…]
August 10, 2011 by Culture Capital
With a month to go until the winner of the 2011 Mercury Prize is announced, at least one shortlisted artist could be forgiven for not bothering to prepare a victory speech. Since its founding as an antidote to the commercialism of the Brits in 1992, the Mercury Prize has never been won by a jazz,… [Read more…]
July 16, 2011 by Catherine Marks
If there’s one word to describe this collaboration between Basement Jaxx and the Dutch orchestra Metropole Orkest, then it can’t be anything other than ‘fabulous’. The scale was grand – encompassing almost a full orchestra complete with percussion and harp – and the performers were both top notch and out to have fun. Le Gateau… [Read more…]
November 30, 2011 by Culture Capital
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