Posts with the label southbank
Showing posts with label southbank. Show all posts
Showing posts with label southbank. Show all posts
Saturday, 9 February 2019
Friday Night is Music Night, Queen Elizabeth Hall | Review
Friday Night is Music Night: Live From The Queen Elizabeth Hall (Concert)
Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
Reviewed on Friday 8th February 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
The iconic Friday Night is Music Night, led by Ken Bruce took over the recently refurbished Queen Elizabeth Hall last night for an eclectic 2 hours of outstandingly virtuosic performances. From Shostakovich to Barry Manilow there was something for everyone and whether you were in the room or listening on the radio, you surely had a fantastic night.
The ever wonderful BBC Concert Orchestra showcased their impressive ensemble work as they performed a variety of pieces, including highlights from West Side Story and Jurassic Park. Under the baton of Bramwell Tovey, the orchestra created magic that filled the space of Queen Elizabeth Hall with power whilst, also bringing moments of tranquility to the auditorium. A contrast, which listening back to the radio broadcast, transferred very well indeed.
Also part of the proceedings was supremely talented cornet player, Thomas Nielson who was awarded the 2018 BBC Young Brass Award. With the talent and stage presence of someone much older, Thomas showed just how versatile the cornet can be with his renditions of Napoli and Someone to Watch Over Me. With highly impressive breath control, a wonderful aura and bucket loads of talent, there's no doubt that Thomas will be highly successful in the music scene.
Gary Wilmott and Sarah Fox contributed even more beautiful performances. Gary opened with the tongue-twister Ya Got Trouble from The Music Man which showed his impressive linguistic skills. Wilmott's strong vocals were showcased more in Billy's Soliloquy (Carousel) which built to a powerful and emotive ending that had the audience in instantaneous applause. Song To The Moon was the perfect piece to highlight Sarah's strong soprano voice and provided a lovely contrast to the other pieces in the programme. Cleverly transitioning from a story which inspired a Disney film, to a Mary Poppin's number from a Disney film, the night flowed very well and shone light on the versatility of all the performers.
Joyous performances made for a really magical and highly entertaining night at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Although for most people, every night is music night, there's something special about being part of such an iconic BBC feature; and when it's as well performed as last night, you can't really go wrong.
Friday Night is Music Night is available for catch up here
Saturday, 12 May 2018
Soap, Spiegeltent | Review
Soap
Spiegeltent
Reviewed on Thursday 10th May by Lucy Jardine
★★★★★
On a sunny evening in May, spending an evening in a dark circus tent might seem like a bit of a waste of the good weather. Why would you want to avoid the sun and warmth to sit in the dark and get wet too? Don’t we get enough of that already?? The sacrifice was, however, worth it. What a fun, uplifting 70 minutes!
The show, somewhat erroneously entitled Soap (there is no soap in evidence, just lots of water) is, in essence, an acrobatic show by six extremely skilled acrobats from across the globe: Russia, Canada, Germany, Ethiopia, Spain, Portugal and Germany, where the company hails from. Their unique device is to use bath tubs and water to display their skills, and are accompanied by a wide range of music, sung by the American soprano Jennifer Lindshield.
From trapeze work, to juggling, partner acrobatics, the aerial hoop and yes, using baths and water as their props, these performers are at the top of their game. What makes them stand out is not just their strength and agility, but the combination of these with gracefulness, humour and a little bit of audience participation.
The tent is small, enabling spectators to get up close and personal with each of the performers as they perform their acts individually and collectively.
If you want to spend an hour of pure entertainment and have some fun into the bargain, don’t miss it – as long as you don’t mind getting a little damp!
Soap is at the Spiegeltent until June 17th
Thursday, 19 May 2016
The Raunch, Spiegeltent | Review
The Raunch is a show starring the Most Wanted of the international cabaret and circus scene and featuring a toe tapping, disco-hoedown soundtrack.
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