Classical Music: Elgar's Dream Of Gerontius 1900
Until now, I have not been able to replicate the magic of that first time. For me, it comes down to the buildup from the Angel’s “And not the threshold...” to the three chords that herald the chorus tutti proclaiming ‘Praise to the Holiest in the Height'. This excellent Signum disc captures that spine-tingling moment in all its full glory, with the composition's character and reverberation palpable, transporting the listener on Cardinal Newman's spiritual journey.
The God Business: Gaslight By Femi Kayode
Whatever the organisation, there is always the possibility of malpractice, of fraud, of people taking the helm who are not as innocent as they should be, and that goes for religious groups as much as anything else.
Albums: UB40 – UB45
The new songs continue the UB40 tradition of addressing hot issues and taking a firm stand against world injustices, all set against a reggae beat
Classical Music: Cantabile - Anthems For Viola
The Jamaican-American violist Jordan Bak has already achieved international acclaim for his radiant stage presence, dynamic interpretations and fearless power, and on this release, he demonstrates his various skills and stage presence in captivating performances, whether solo or joined by Richard Uttley on piano.
Silver Screen Weekly - What's Coming Up At The Cinema From Friday 26th April
Our film critic and media correspondent has been looking and trawling the new releases. Here's what you can see on the big screen this week. From Friday 26th April I.S.S. (15) This tense and claustrophobic sci-fi thriller comes from director Gabriela Cowperthwaite (Blackfish) and is breathless in every sense of the word.
Celebrated Sitar Player Niladri Kumar To Make His Howard Assembly Room Debut
Audiences will have a rare opportunity to catch sitar maestro and award-winning film composer Niladri Kumar in Leeds on Thursday 16 May, when he brings his immersive musical experience to the Howard Assembly Room for the very first time.
Longlist For Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year 2024 Revealed
Harrogate International Festivals announced today the 18 titles longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2024, the UK and Ireland’s most prestigious crime fiction award now in its twentieth year.
BBC Proms Unveils Its 2024 Programme
The BBC Proms will kick off on Friday 19 July and continue through to Saturday 14 September 2024. 73 of the 90 Proms will take place at the Royal Albert Hall and 17 at venues across the UK This season features some of the world’s best international orchestras and their conductors.
Internationally Acclaimed Performers Announced For Harrogate Music Festival 2024
Harrogate International Festivals has announced a stellar line-up for the Harrogate Music Festival which is back with a bang this summer. This year’s Festival, which runs from June 8 to July 13, features an array of spectacular musical talent with artists from the worlds of classical, jazz, soul and dance music taking to the stage in Harrogate.
Rare Chance To Bag A Bargain At Opera North’s Costume Sale
Anyone who has ever fancied dressing like an opera diva or adding some drama to their wardrobe will want to head to Opera North in the heart of Leeds next month for the first sale of costumes from the company’s archives since 2005.
Albums: Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department.
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Named after a chat group Joe Alwyn has with Paul Mescal,The Tortured Poets Department is very much a break-up album, yet, in true Swift style, it is difficult to decipher which of the lyrics fully relate to reality and which have been crafted in the realms of storytelling. The album's title track, with its nods to Patti Smith and Dylan Thomas, clearly connects several moments to her and Alwyn.
Classical Music: Robert Schumann: Piano Works
This double CD set features Llyr Williams' performances. Somehow, given his distinguished career, I have failed to encounter Williams before. Where have I been? His playing is precise and captures something of the Romantic period. The recording quality is excellent.
Classical Music: Brahms & Busoni
Brahms & Busoni Johannes Brahms Violin Concerto, Op. 77; Ferruccio Busoni Violin Concerto, Op.
Albums: The Feeling San Vito
Album opener, War’s Not Won, shows that the band have never lost sight of the sound that made them household names – with the strongest echoes of their debut album since it was released – yet, the whole record takes this winning formula and reinvigorates and redesigns it with killer effect.
Poem Of The Week: Off Duty By Katie Donovan
Off Duty Is my face just right, am I looking as a widow should? I pass the funeral parlour where four weeks ago the ceremony unfurled. Now I’m laughing with the children. The director of the solemn place is lolling out front, sucking on a cigarette.
Scarborough Calling: Part Three - A Pub At The Gates Of Paradise
After ascending to Paradise, I pay my respects to Anne Brontë, buried here in 1849, and stand amidst the daffodils in the grounds of St Mary’s Church. From here is a magnificent view over the red pantiles of the Old Town down to the harbour, and a quite stupendous vista stretching to Flamborough Head’s chalky cliffs.
Albums: Compilation - Now 117
Now music compilations are always a good indicator of what is current in the UK singles charts. Since the series premiered in 1983, the compilation series has spawned various configurations
Classical Music: Chopin Obsession By Marina Arsenijevic
Her obsession with Chopin means the subtleties of his miniatures shine from a pianist who appreciates the fine detail; this glorious album takes us on a wonderful journey through some of his best and least-known piano works.
Why Tess?
Charlotte Moony and Alex Harvey, artistic directors of Ockham’s Razor talk about bringing the classic Thomas Hardy novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles to the stage in a ground-breaking circus adaptation at York Theatre Royal from 8-11 May. “Since we started telling people that our next show would be an adaption of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel Tess of the D’Urbervi…
Silver Screen Weekly - What's Coming Up At The Cinema From Friday 19th April
Our film critic and media correspondent has been looking and trawling the new releases. Here's what you can see on the big screen this week. From Friday 19th April Abigail (15) Home invasion with a toothy twist.
Bread And Roses: Jennie Lee At Bingley Little Theatre
Lindsay Rodden’s vibrantly entertaining and biographically literate reading of the life of Jennie Lee once again gives notice of Mikron Theatre Company’s commitment to voicing the voiceless - especially women. If the socialist firebrand and daughter of a Scots miner has been consigned to the historical margins it might be because she languishes in the shadow of her husband, Aneurin Bevan.
Yorkshire Writers Retreat To Host Crime Writing Weekend
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Highly experienced criminal psychologist, guest lecturer, radio host, podcaster, and writer Linda Sage is teaming up with Writers Retreat UK in Beal, North Yorkshire, to host a weekend crime writing residential from 20-22 September. Linda has spent forty years working with some of the UK’s most notorious criminals, including the Kray twins, Charles Bronson and Myra Hindley.
Shortlist Announced For 2024 CrimeFest Awards
CrimeFest, a European crime writing convention, has announced the shortlists for its annual awards. The awards began 16 years ago when CrimeFest launched in 2008; they honour the best crime books released in the UK in the last year, and feature the hotly-contended Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award which offers a £1,000 cash prize.
Shifting Perspectives: A Symposium Of Inclusive Dance Practice In Leeds
A brand new dance company launches in Leeds, created to break down barriers and nurture a dance culture where everyone feels recognised. Unbound Dance Theatre launches with a special symposium event Shifting Perspectives at Yorkshire Dance Leeds on Friday 26 April.
Emma Sparks Joy With New Art Exhibition
Abstract impressionist painter Emma Butler is to bring her vibrant, colourful landscapes to Darlington with the opening of her first solo exhibition. Entitled Joy, Emma will showcase her beautifully bold work at Gallerina, in Darlington, which is home to some of the country’s best contemporary fine artists.
Poem Of The Week: Cargoes By John Masefield (1878-1967)
Cargoes Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir, Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine, With a cargo of ivory, And apes and peacocks, Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine. Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus, Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores, With a cargo of diamonds, Emeralds, amethysts, Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moidores.
Northern Aldborough Festival Tickets On Sale
Tickets are still available for Yorkshire’s leading classical music festival, the Northern Aldborough Festival; 2024 marks the festival’s 30th anniversary. A charity, its mission is to bring a high-end live music to its rural location, making the sleepy village that was once a prosperous Roman capital, an unlikely epicentre for classical music.
Call-Out For Volunteers To Help Shape York’s Next Large-scale Community Theatre Production
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York Theatre Royal has announced that a new large-scale community production will take place during the summer of 2025. Focusing on the life of York social reformer and philanthropist Seebohm Rowntree, research volunteers are being sought to delve into the fascinating history of the period and the life of this famous York figure to shape the theme of the production.
Take That - This Life On Tour
When Take That reunited in 2006 after their breakup, the group returned stronger and more popular than before. Now with Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald seemingly back for good, the trio arrived at Sheffield Arena for the start of their This Life tour—a mammoth 41-date outing across the country, selling over 700,000 tickets in the process.
Silver Screen Weekly - What's Coming Up At The Cinema From Friday 12th April
Our film critic and media correspondent has been looking and trawling the new releases. Here's what you can see on the big screen this week. From Friday 12th April Back To Black (12a) Marisa Abela is Amy Winehouse in this biopic from director Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy).