Arts Reviews

Review: Wigton Choral Society perform music by Holst, John Tavener, Eric Whitacre, Cecilia McDowall, John Joubert, Andrew Carter and popular carols

Noël Noël – Wigton Choral Society, St Mary’s Church WigtonMusical director Ian Wright is fortunate in having some fine individual voices in the choir, which he used to great effect in their opening carol, Gustav Holst’s Lullay my Liking, in which solo verses from four corners of the Church, and sensitive unaccompanied singing from the chorus, created a very atmospheric opening.

Last updated 23 December 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

Review: Keswick Choral Society’s Christmas concert of music by Sweelink, Vivaldi, Vivaldi and popular carols

Festival of Christmas Music, Keswick Choral Society, St Kentigern’s Church, CrosthwaiteThe Society gave vibrant fulfilment to Sweelink’s vision of Today Christ is Born, Noel. Little wonder that this 16/17th Century Amsterdam Composer became known as The Orpheus of Amsterdam.

Last updated 23 December 2011
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Review: Brampton Chamber Choir play Christmas music by Victoria, Consort, Mozart and Bach at Lanercost Priory

Creator Of The Stars – Brampton Chamber Choir, Lanercost PrioryProjecting the joy of the Christmas story is a speciality of the Brampton Chamber Choir, who once again convinced a good audience on Saturday evening in Lanercost Priory.

Last updated 23 December 2011
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The Stranglers at Solfest

THE STRANGLERS: IT’S almost 35 years since The Stranglers appeared on the scene with the Album Rattus Norvegicus, and were aligned with the burgeoning punk scene.

Last updated 2 September 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

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CASTCAST perfectly epitomised the mood of the final night of Solfest, playing a tuneful mixture of upbeat rock and wistful indie that gave The Stranglers a tough act to follow on the main stage.

Last updated 2 September 2011
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Solfest, the sound of summer holiday

KATE RUSBY TO CALL Kate Rusby a Solfest veteran would be something of an understatement; she played at the very first Solfest back in 2004 to a capacity crowd of just under 2,000 people, and returned to the main stage this year to a crowd more like 10,000.

Last updated 2 September 2011
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Ensemble Buxtehude: St John’s and St Bega’s Churches, Bassenthwaite

This small and unique festival of early and baroque choral and instrumental music is a weekend not to be missed.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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Many Happy Returns at West Walls Theatre, Carlisle

This is the third play by Bernard Farrell I have seen at Carlisle Green Room Club and like its predecessors, it provided a wonderful evening’s entertainment.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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Carlisle Festival 2011: Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band

Resplendent in their gold braided uniforms the Yorkshire Imps (as the band is affectionately known) opened the 12th Carlisle Festival in magnificent style.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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A celebration of Brazil at Holy Trinity Church, Carlisle

The rhythms of the bossa nova and the passion of arnival could be heard and felt in Carlisle when seven young Brazilians presented their country in music, song, photos and food.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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Lanercost Festival: Glasgow String Quartet

This was a varied programme providing a rare treat for lovers of the genre.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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Lanercost Festival 2011: Young Future Professionals

The evening burst into life when Magdalena Loth-Hill and Valarie Liow Xiao Chun superbly played Mendelssohn’s sparkling Sonata in F major, first movement, contrasted beautifully by the Glück-Kreisler Melody from Orpheus and Eurydice.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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Lanercost Festival 2011: Young Musician of the Year competition

The competition featured 14 talented young soloists who delighted us with a richly varied programme of vocal and instrumental solos as they competed for trophies generously provided by the Cumberland Building Society.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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Dumb Show: Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

As a regular and enthusiastic Theatre by the Lake-goer, I’ve come to expect stylish and thought-provoking drama from top notch actors.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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West Side Story: The Sands Centre, Carlisle

Stagedright youth theatre have pulled off their ambitious production of West Side Story in spectacular style.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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Carlisle Festival 2011: David Briggs

David Briggs’ organ concert on Tuesday evening in the Cathedral was a tour de force of technique and musicianship.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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Carlisle Festival 2011: Lonsdale Chamber Orchestra

The Lonsdale Chamber Orchestra is a group of Cumbria/Lancashire-based professional string players.

Last updated 8 July 2011
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A very Merry start to colourful and varied festival

Merry Wives of Windsor – Lanercost Festival It was wet and miserable outside but the medieval Dacre Hall at Lanercost provided a colourful and inviting venue for Ruddy Amateur’s performance of Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor, which opened this year’s Lanercost Festival.

Last updated 24 June 2011
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Wigton Choral Society: Melodies, enjoyment and enthusiasm

Wigton Choral Society’s Christmas Concert, St Mary’s Church, Wigton: Wigton Choral Society presented an unusually varied programme for their Christmas concert in St Mary’s Church, beginning with the lively Riu Riu Chiu, sung in Spanish.

Last updated 7 January 2011
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

This celebration is a beauty

Sleeping Beauty, The Sands Centre, CarlisleThere was everything you’d expect to see in a pantomime in Sleeping Beauty – comedy, romance, a pantomime dame, villain and audience participation.

Last updated 17 December 2010
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