Albums: H.E.A.T - Welcome To The Future
H.E.A.T - Welcome to the Future Disaster; Bad Time For Love; Running to You; Call My Name; In Disguise; The End; Rock Bottom; Children of the Storm; Losing Game; Paradise Lost; Tear it Down; We Will Not Forget (EarMusic) Recalling the more commercial days of the late eighties, as far as hard rock is concerned, Swedish rock group H.E.A.T.
Brain Teaser: Can You Spot The Five Concert Items?
As it is the Eruovision Song Contest tonight and with 2025 promising to be an exciting year for touring artists, from Beyoncé and Sabrina Carpenter to Oasis and Robbie Williams, artists are gearing up to take to the stages in the UK, and fans are set to experience another summer of unforgettable nights filled with their favourite music.
Opera: Puccini Tosca
With myriad versions of Tosca already adorning record company catalogues, one must consider what justifies yet another interpretation. The answer lies in this sumptuous and scintillating recording that marks Daniel Harding's official debut as music director of the Santa Cecilia Orchestra. The stellar cast features Italian soprano Eleonora Buratto as the eponymous heroine, Chilean-American tenor and DG artist Jonathan Tetelman as Cavaradossi, and French baritone Ludovic Tézier as Scarpia, all captured in exemplary sound.
Classical Music: Ravel: Complete Works for Solo Piano
His technical wizardry demonstrates virtuosic skill that combines flair with modesty, ensuring the listener hears authentic rhythmic accounts of works such as Miroirs. Bavouzet remains firmly in control throughout; the dynamics and stylish phrasing are superbly judged as he explores the different contours of Ravel's entire piano output. Expressive and eloquent melodies emerge with carefully crafted contrasts.
Classical Music: Maurice Greene Jephtha
What emerges most clearly from this recording is that Greene was no mere Handel imitator but a composer of distinct voice and considerable gifts. His relative obscurity seems increasingly unjustifiable with each hearing of this work. Curnyn has captured the spirit of the piece with unerring sensitivity, making a compelling case that Jephtha deserves a permanent place in the oratorio repertoire.
Luke Jerram’s Breathtaking Gaia Artwork Comes To Harrogate
A spectacular giant globe artwork by the renowned UK artist Luke Jerram is coming to Harrogate this summer as part of HACS Harrogate Music Festival. Harrogate International Festivals is delighted to announce that Gaia, an acclaimed touring artwork, will be displayed inside St Wilfrid’s Church in Harrogate from July 4-12 with the support of North Yorkshire Council.
Matthew Parris Guest Speaker At Northern Aldborough Festival
A world-leading soprano, famed jazz vocalist, dynamic orchestra, and one of the UK’s most exciting opera companies are just a few of the acts heading to the Northern Aldborough Festival. The idyllic rural North Yorkshire village of Aldborough becomes an unlikely epicentre for music across ten days, from 12 to 21 June.
The Spy Ring: Not The work Of An Ordinary Boy by Victoria L. Humphreys
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Pigeons have long been regarded as pests, culled from Trafalgar Square at least once I believe, and regularly shooed from my garden when I have put out bread to attract an array of garden birds (I particularly like robins, blue tits, blackbirds, and am delighted when I see the occasional redwing or goldfinch) only to watch the pigeons try to hoover it all up before anyone else gets a chance.
Classical Music: Weinberg String Quartets, Vol. 5
As in previous volumes, the works are drawn from contrasting periods of Weinberg's compositional development, providing a fascinating overview of his evolving musical language. The 1944 String Quartet No 3, considered his first 'mature' quartet, opens the disc with striking starkness.
Poem Of The Week: Nurse at a Bus Stop By Simon Armitage
Nurse at a Bus Stop The slow traffic takes a good long look. Jilted bride of public transport, alone in the shelter, the fireproof bin and shatter-proof glass scrawled with the cave-art of cocks and hearts. It’s late, Friday, the graveyard shift, you’re ready to dab blood from a split lip, to hold the hand of cancer till the line goes flat.
Tambo and Bones
It is rare these days that I go to the theatre to see a play or show that I know so little about, however Tambo and Bones was an intriguing mystery to me. I was promised a journey lasting 500 years with a minstrel show and hip hop with surprises along the way.
Swiss Bliss and Eurovision Kiss: Alphorns, Yodels, and Voting Twists Make This Contest One Not to Miss!
The 69th Eurovision Song Contest is now well and truly underway. With Basel proving the consummate hosts, St. Jakobshalle boasts a huge, impressive stage, and the fans in the audience are helping craft a joyous celebration.
The Queen’s Reading Room Heads To Chatsworth For 2025 Festival
Her Majesty Queen Camilla’s charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, has announced the return of its highly anticipated flagship event The Queen’s Reading Room Festival, which boasts a world-famous line-up and brand new venue for its 2025 event. The charity, launched by The Queen in 2023, works in the UK and beyond to celebrate and promote the transformative power of books.
Picture You Dead: Darkness And Deception In The Art Underworld
Laying bare the criminality of the fine art underworld and the spurious characters who inhabit it, there was no mistaking that foul play was afoot from the outset. As blood oozed from the Picture You Dead curtain backdrop, the voice of author Peter James himself warned of the dire consequences of keeping your phones on during the performance.
Rise Of Young British-Asian Actors With BBC Hit
The BBC comedy hit Man Like Mobeen has its fifth and final season this month. Recognised for its breakthrough representation of working-class West Midlands life and British-Asian culture with its blend of humour and heart, it’s also a launchpad for young acting talent.
Manchester’s Grassroots Festival Green Island Returns
Manchester’s grassroots festival Green Island has shared their full lineup for 2025. This year the festival will return to Hulme Community Garden Centre, in the musically rich area of Hulme. The 1,500 capacity festival will house five stages that sprawl across the leafy terrain, creating a haven in the centre of the city.
Selby Abbey - Concert - Fairbburn Singers
The Fairburn Singers next concert will be in Selby Abbey on 31 May 2025 at 6 pm. They will be performing alongside MACH4 – an Austrian Male Choir. The Singers will first meet MACH4 4 on a 4-night trip to Vienna on 19-23 May, and perform alongside them in their home town of Gumpoldskirchen in the Catholic Church, as well as other venues.
Northern Ballet presents Sketches: Past, Present, Future
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Following sell-out performances in 2024, Northern Ballet’s choreographic platform, Sketches, is returning to Leeds with a compelling programme that weaves together new works and a classic piece of ballet repertoire. Devised by Artistic Director Federico Bonelli, Sketches offers emerging choreographers a platform to workshop, create, and present new and innovative works.
Tiger Country By Nina Raine
York Actors Collective is heading into Tiger Country for its next production at Theatre@41 Monkgate in York. The title of this doctors and nurses drama refers to a term used in surgery – when a surgeon operates near a big blood vessel they’re in dangerous territory and might warn the team: ‘Careful, you’re approaching tiger country’.
In conversation: Zoe Me
Switzerland were the first ever winners of Eurovision. They are also the most recent. In between, their story has real highs and lows - with the introduction of Celine Dion to the international stage being a real highlight. With Nemo taking victory last year, the competition is in Basel, home to Zoë Më, who started releasing music back in 2018.
Godber’s Homage To Northern Soul Comes To Scarborough
John Godber is the dramatic gift that keeps on giving. If it’s got his name on it you know what to expect, something endlessly funny, always breaking new ground, yet ever demotic, disturbing and heartwarming. In Do I Love You? he returns to the music of his 1970s’ youth, Northern Soul, and indeed the play takes its name from a classic track of that genre.
Classical Music: Scriabin Vers la flamme
Who can resist succumbing to the intensity of a flame that glows with penetrating heat, as the title 'Towards the Flame' suggests? The richness of Scriabin's textures and resonance is like throwing another log onto the fire: flames rise with passionate strength, and the tapestry of colour draws you into the nucleus, a moment when, phoenix-like, you leap into the fire to be reborn in a new form.
Debbie Joins The Military Wives
Writer and director Debbie Isitt admits that the new musical Military Wives – which has its world premiere at York Theatre Royal in September - is a slight departure from her past work but she’s not about to abandon her usual agenda. “I’m about making new work whether it’s on stage or film.
Classical Music: Schubert: Symphonies Volume 4
This outstanding release not only captures the special chemistry between Gardner and the CBSO but also serves as a fitting capstone to their acclaimed Schubert cycle. With its perfect balance of scholarly insight and emotional engagement, the recording deserves a place in any serious classical collection.
Classical Music: Beethoven Kavatine - Sonatas Op. 109, 110 & 111
Throughout this recording, Sandrin combines impeccable technique with infectious passion, offering a Beethoven interpretation that is straightforward yet profoundly effective—much like the captivating album cover that houses this remarkable musical journey.
Albums: Tristan Frou Frou
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The album is a discovery worth making, and for those already in the know, your faith will be rewarded with this fine album.
The Night Out That Gets Everyone Talking
Have you ever stopped and wondered how sound and listening shape our lives? This intriguing question along with much more is explored by three special guests at the latest Berwins Salon North event at The Crown Hotel in Harrogate on June 5.
The 69th Eurovision Song Contest
The 69th Eurovision Song Contest is nearly upon us. With just a week to go and the acts already rehearsing in Basel, the world is on the final countdown to find out who replaces the third Swiss winner - Nemo - as the crown carrying Eurovision winner.
Big Country And Toyah Announce Tour
Scottish rock band Big Country have announced a string of UK dates for winter 2025, which will include stops in Cardiff, Leeds, London, Manchester and Newcastle. The UK dates stand as part of a 2025 world tour stopping in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
From The World Renowned Rhondda Valley The Pendyrus Male Choir
The Pendyrus Male Choir will be performing at Selby Abbey on Saturday 7th June 2025 Throughout the years, the choir has been fortunate to collaborate with distinguished musical organisations, including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Cory Band.