York classical pianist Sarah Beth Briggs. Picture: Fritz Curzon
THE 2026 Northern Aldborough Festival will see York pianist Sarah Beth Briggs performing at the prestigious classical event for the first time in what the organisers describe as “her long overdue appearance at our festival”.
For Saturday morning’s concert, at The Old Hall, North Deighton, near Wetherby, Sarah has crafted a programme designed to welcome seasoned concert-goers and newcomers alike, comprising Haydn’s Sonata in C, Hob XVI/50, Mendelssohn’s Variations Sérieuses, Op. 54 and works by Poulenc and Schumann.
What should listeners expect at the 11am performance, Sarah? “Vibrant, infectious classical melodies sit alongside a romantic depiction of a German forest and French music, in turn sunny and zany, and a concluding work where solemn, haunting melodies give way to explosive speed, drama and pure romantic passion,” she says.
Sarah Beth Briggs in Dean’s Park, York Minster. Picture: Marci Stuchlikova
Those infectious classical melodies, specifically the recital-opening first movement of Haydn’s late C major Sonata, have earned it the distinction of being Sarah’s most popular track globally, boasting more than 1.8 million plays on Apple Music, showcasing the timeless appeal of Haydn’s writing.
As ever with Sarah’s recital performances, Saturday’s programme will be introduced from the stage. “Breaking down barriers in the classical music world is something which I see as essential,” she says.
To prove the point, her December 2025 concert at Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall was described by the Nottingham Post reviewer as “presenting each piece in ways which both illuminated the music and created just the right sort of rapport with an audience that really does appreciate artists who can manage friendly chat as well as fine playing.”
“Breaking down barriers in the classical music world is something which I see as essential,” says Sarah Beth Briggs. Picture: Fritz Curzon
Newcastle-born Sarah’s career was launched as a child prodigy, performing as the then youngest-ever finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition at the age of 11 in 1984, the year when she gained a Dame Myra Hess Award too. This was followed by international success, winning the International Mozart Competition four years later in Salzburg, aged 15.
Her piano playing has taken her to many of England’s premier venues. “I’ve performed with numerous major orchestras and played in Europe and the USA too, but I’m greatly looking forward to playing for the thriving Yorkshire cultural community this Saturday,” she says.
Sarah Beth Briggs: Heading for Crucible Playhouse, Sheffield, for Piano Classics concert on September 5
Sarah’s next appearance in Yorkshire will be as part of the Piano Classics series at the Crucible Playhouse, Sheffield on Saturday, September 5. Her 2pm programme will feature Beethoven’s Bagatelles Op.126; Clara Schumann’s 4 Pièces Fugitives Op.15; Tailleferre’s Sicilienne; Poulenc’s 3 Novelettes; Robert Schumann’s Waldszenen Op.82 and Brahms’ Piano Pieces Op.119.
Katie Stillman: Directing the Orchestra of Opera North from the violin in tomorrow’s opening concert, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
NORTHERN Aldborough Festival opens tomorrow in the North Yorkshire village near Boroughbridge.
Now in its 32nd year, the festival turns its focus on classical music for ten days, from June 18 to 27, opening with the Orchestra of Opera North performing one of the world’s most-loved works, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, directed from the violin by Katie Stillman, at St Andrew’s Church, Aldborough, at 7.30pm.
Leading British clarinettist Emma Johnson returns to Aldborough on Friday with her star-studded trio, featuring pianist Andrew West and cellist Thomas Carroll, performing masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms and Shostakovich at St Andrew’s Church at 7.30pm.
Clarinettist Emma Johnson: Performing works by Beethoven, Brahms and Shostakovich at St Andrew’s Church on Friday
Pianist, academic and artistic director Lucy Parham performs her remarkable piece, I, Clara, telling the extraordinary life story of Clara Schumann – musician and composer’s wife – in a blend of words and music, narrated by actress Joanna David, at St Andrew’s Church on June 24 at 7.30pm.
A stalwart of screen and stage, Joanna David is known for her TV roles in Downton Abbey and Inspector Morse and is matriarch of one of Britain’s most acclaimed acting dynasties: married to Edward Fox and mother to Emilia and Freddie.
Pianist Sarah Beth Briggs, the Newcastle-born, York-based former child prodigy, who was the youngest finalist in the history of the BBC Young Musician competition, makes her Aldborough debut at The Old Hall, North Deighton, on Saturday at 11am.
CellistEnjuan Han: Performing in Young Artists’ Showcase on Sunday
Northern Aldborough Festival has built a reputation for supporting the UK’s rising stars with its annual New Voices Singing Competition, now entering its fourth year with semi-finals on June 22 at 4pm and 6pm, followed by the grand final on June 23 at 7pm, all at St Andrew’s Church.
A highlight of the classical calendar, the competition attracts a panel of world-renowned judges. Past judges include luminaries such as Dame Felicity Lott, Sir Thomas Allen, Edward Gardner and Dame Jane Glover. This year’s judging panel comprises conductor and former musical director of Opera North Paul Daniel CBE, soprano Carolyn Sampson OBE, accompanist Anna Tilbrook, festival director Robert Ogden and festival chair Sir Andrew Lawson-Tancred.
Audiences have the rare chance to glimpse tomorrow’s stars compete in the hunt for the UK’s best classical vocal talent, with a prize fund of £7,000 and performances at leading festivals for the winners.
Soprano Rachel Munro and pianist Jia Ning Ng: Recital at St Andrew’s Church on June 23
In addition, the 2025 Winner’s Recital will be performed by soprano Rachel Munro and pianist Jia Ning Ng at St Andrew’s Church on June 23 at 11am.
Festival director Robert Ogden says: “As a charity, the festival’s mission is to bring high-end live music to a rural location. We’re proud to bring the kind of world-leading acts normally seen on cosmopolitan stages to our village church, in a gorgeous countryside setting.
“Nothing beats the truly uplifting and transformative experience this level of artistry and music offers. We really hope those who might be new to – or even feel a bit intimidated about classical music – to come along, experience and fall in love with it.”
Drummer Clark Tracey: Leading his quintet at The Old Hall, North Deighton, on Saturday
Violinist Harriet Mackenzie, leader of the Kosmos Ensemble, and award-winning Mexican guitarist Morgan Szymanski team up for Serenata!, a romantically themed programme of Vivaldi, Piazzolla and Paganini, in the ballroom of HMP Askham Grange, a former private country manor house, on June 24 at 11am.
A sublime blend of voice, double bass and guitar comes in the form of Eleanor Grant and Gus McQuade, performing pieces from Benjamin Britten to Joni Mitchell in the genre-defying Jim Bolland Memorial Concert at Farnley Hall, Otley, on June 25 at 11am.
Wild Arts return to Aldborough after last year’s triumph with another sparkling production, Mozart’s The Marriage Of Figaro, at St Andrew’s Church on June 26 at 7pm.
Amol Rajan: Sharing perspectives on journalism, media trends and the changing role of news in public life at St Andrew’s Church on June 25
The Jazz Champions concert, featuring drummer and bandleader Clark Tracey’s quintet, at The Old Hall, North Deighton, on Saturday at 7.30pm, has sold out.
Mezzo-soprano Rose Ritson, cellist Enjuan Han, pianist Evie Lu and trumpet player Gabriel Serrano-Medina take part in the Young Artists’ Showcase at St Andrew’s Church on Sunday at 3pm.
An Evening With Amol Rajan, BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter, The Today Podcast podcaster, University Challenge question master and cricket enthusiast, at St Andrew’s Church on June 25 at 6.30pm has sold out.
Eleanor Grant and Gus McQuade: Jim Bolland Memorial Concert at Farnley Hall, Otley, on June 25
Rajan, who edited the Independent at the age of 29, will share his perspectives on journalism, media trends and the changing role of news in public life.
Closing the festival on June 27 will be the sold-out Last Night Outdoor Concert, headlined in the grounds of Aldborough Manor by tribute band Definitely Oasis, supported by singer-songwriter Pearl Natasha & Band.
Audiences are invited to bring a picnic and dance the night away from 6pm, climaxing with a spectacular orchestrated firework display.
Aldborough’s late-night venue, The SHED, returns for concert-goers who want to continue festivities after the evening concerts in a relaxed environment, with a variety of live entertainment and refreshments.
Artist and designer Es Devlin with her Library of the Four Winds installation in the Temple of the Four Winds, Castle Howard. Picture: James Drury
ES Devlin’s mirrored installation at Castle Howard and Lenny Henry’s career reflections stand out among Charles Hutchinson’s joyful June recommendations.
Installation of the week: Es Devlin, Library Of The Four Winds, Temple of the Four Winds, Castle Howard, near Malton, until September 27
AS part of the Vanbrugh 300 celebrations at Castle Howard, artist and designer Es Devlin responds to the visionary architecture of Sir John Vanbrugh with her luminous installation Library Of The Four Winds, a new mirrored sculpture that takes over the Temple of the Four Winds in honour of the National Year of Reading too.
The temple originally was used as a place for refreshment and reading: Devlin’s starting point for a central sculpture made up of hundreds of books, curated from the personal libraries of Vanbrugh and Devlin. The temple is encompassed by four concentric tables where the public can read, draw, talk, eat and listen. The space will host events throughout the summer. Tickets: castlehoward.co.uk.
NE Theatre York’s poster for Les Miserables School Edition at Joseph Rowntree Theatre
Youth theatre show of the week: NE Theatre York in Les Miserables School Edition, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee
ALAIN Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel of redemption will be performed by under-18s from NE Theatre York, directed by Steve Tearle, with a 15-piece orchestra under Joe Allen’s musical direction, projections by Tom Turner and the obligatory barricade in the set design.
The musical tells the story of former prisoner Jean Valjean, who is pursued for 17 years by police inspector Javert against the backdrop of a revolution brewing in 19th-century Paris. The principal cast features Sam Brophy’s Jean Valjean, Will Roberts’s Javert, Emil Marczuk’s Marius, Juliette Sellamuttu’s Fantine, Oscar Smith’s Enjolras, Callum Richardson’s Thenardier and Bella Gledhill’s Madame Thenardier. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.
Indie rock gig of the week: The Kooks, TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre, tomorrow, gates 6pm
BRIGHTON indie rock favourites The Kooks are marking 20 years since the release of debut album Inside In/Inside Out in a set list likely to feature You Don’t Love Me, Naïve, She Moves In Her Own Way, Ooh La, Always Where I Need To Be, Shine On, Junk Of The Heart (Happy) and Around Town.
In the line-up will be Luke Pritchard, vocals and guitar, Hugh Harris, bass, guitar and synthesiser, and Alexis Nuñez, drums and percussion. Standing tickets for the show have sold out. Box office: scarboroughopenairtheatre.com.
Rock Paper Goose: Showcasing Okay! album and new songs at The Old Paint Shop
Indie pop gig of the week: The Old Paint Shop presents Rock Paper Goose, York Theatre Royal Studio, tomorrow, 8pm
YORK multi-instrumentalists Nathan Greaves (vocals, guitar, synth) and Olly Whitehouse (vocals, synth, bass) write catchy melodies, taking inspiration in equal measure from rock, pop and EDM, as heard on their September 2025 debut album, Okay!.
Expect a life-affirming live show full of playful energy and joy and the promise of new songs. Dawid Ziemba supports. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
The Overtones: Teaming up with Nadiya Bychkova and Louis Smith for Jukebox Idols Of The 50s and 60s at York Barbican
Song and dance show of the week: Jukebox Idols Of The 50s & 60s, with The Overtones, Nadiya Bychkova and Louis Smith, York Barbican, Friday, 7.30pm
VOCAL harmony group The Overtones, Strictly Come Dancing professional Nadiya Bychkova and former Olympic gymnast and Strictly champion Louis Smith star together in Jukebox Idols, presented by the producers of West End hit Rip It Up 60s.
This non-stop whirlwind of 1950s and 1960s’ music icons such as Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and the Motown roster features a stellar supporting cast of dancers as they swing, bop, jive and rock’n’roll their way through the ultimate jukebox show. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
Luka Watabe: York-based Japanese jazz singer, performing in sophisticated cabaret show at The Old Paint Shop
Cabaret night of the week: The Old Paint Shop presents Velvet Jazz Night with Luka Watabe, York Theatre Royal Studio, Friday, 8pm
LUKA Watabe and her professional jazz musicians combine old-school Hollywood glamour with her rich, smooth vocal styling in a sophisticated repertoire of classic jazz standards and modern songs delivered with a sleek jazz twist. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Beverley Knight: Born To Perform show at York Barbican. Picture: Lewis Shaw
Recommended but sold out: Beverley Knight, Born To Perform, York Barbican, Saturday, 7.30pm
QUEEN of British soul Beverley Knight shares stories from her life on stage, as well as performing her biggest hits, musical theatre favourites and cherished songs that have inspired her on her 20-date UK tour.
“Born To Perform is me taking you on a journey through my life on both music and theatre stages, using my memories and of course my songs. I’m stripping back my sound so the audience can lean in a little closer and really hear my soul,” says Knight, whose hits include Made It Black, Greatest Day, Get Up, Shoulda Woulda Coulda, Gold, Come As You Are, Keep This Fire Burning and Piece Of My Heart. Her special guest is Gabriella Cilmi. Box office for returns only: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
Co-headliners of the week: Skunk Anansie & Garbage, TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Saturday, gates 6pm
SKUNK Anansie and Garbage play Scarborough as part of a six-date tour. Formed in London in 1994, fronted by Skin, Skunk Anansie blend hard rock with political and social themes on such hits as Weak and Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good).
American alternative rock band Garbage, fronted by Scottish singer Shirley Manson, combine rock, electronica and pop influences, exemplified by Stupid Girl and Only Happy When It Rains. Box office: scarboroughopenairtheatre.com.
The many faces of Lenny Henry: Actor, impressionist, fundraiser and stand-up anecdotalist
Talk of the week: Lenny Henry, Still At Large, Grand Opera House, York, June 23, 7.30pm
PART stand-up, part storytelling and part conversation with himself and with you, Still At Large finds Lenny Henry returning to the experiences that shaped him while also exploring the ideas, challenges and creative sparks driving him today.
From The Lenny Henry Show and Chef! to dramatic performances in Othello and The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power, he traces the roles, characters and moments that have defined his six-decade career and shares what continues to inspire him as he reflects on a life lived out loud. On show will be the many versions of Lenny: actor, impressionist, comedian, fundraiser and stand-up anecdotalist. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Al Dunn, Matt Freeman and Nick Bunt in Le Navet Bete’s Oh Zeus!, on tour at York Theatre Royal
In Focus: Le Navet Bete in Oh Zeus!, York Theatre Royal, June 18 to 20, 7.30pm plus 2pm Saturday matinee
CHAOTIC comedy specialists Le Navet Bete return to York Theatre Royal from tomorrow, this time with their riotous ride through the world of Greek mythology, Oh Zeus!.
The Exeter company previously toured their hit family shows Dracula: The Bloody Truth, King Arthur and Treasure Island to the St Leonard’s Place theatre.
Written by John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete and directed by Nicholson, Oh Zeus! finds the stability of Olympus being threatened by the marriage of Zeus’s daughter, Hebe, to a mere mortal, whereupon the King of the Gods hatches a plan to derail the wedding.
Cue three actors – company founders Al Dunn, Nick Bunt and Matt Freeman – playing 40 characters between them in a mythical farce that journeys through Ancient Greece, the Underworld and back.
Expect physical comedy, outrageous jokes, fast-paced pandemonium and togas aplenty in a show ideal for devotees of Fawlty Towers, Bottom and The Play That Goes Wrong.
Formed in 2008 in Exeter, Devon, Le Navet Bete travel around the UK and internationally, with support from Arts Council England, the Exeter Northcott Theatre and the Exeter Phoenix, on a mission to create and tour humorous, physical and accessible comedy theatre, replete with storytelling for “absolutely everyone (ages four to 104)” – although Oh Zeus! carries an age guidance of 12 plus. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Hal Cruttenden: Dishing out the comical blows at Pocklington Arts Centre tonight. Picture: Matt Crockett
OPEN studios across York and beyond, Strictly dancers in tandem, Les Miserables in its school edition and Elvis Costello’s early years are among Charles Hutchinson’s joyful June recommendations.
Comedy gig of the week: Hal Cruttenden: Can Dish It Out But Can’t Take It, Pocklington Arts Centre, tonight, 7.30pm
EALING comedian Hal Cruttenden’s new tour show promises to stick it to ‘The Man’, as long as ‘The Man’ doesn’t stick it back to him. Utilising his trademark hard-hitting comedy style, he pontificates on subjects such as middle-aged dating, social media, the insanity of modern politics and how his daughters love him but do not respect him. He believes that, after experiencing this gig, you will feel exactly the same way. Box office: 01759 301547 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk.
Es Devlin stands by her installation Library Of The Four Winds in the Temple of the Four Winds at Castle Howard. Picture: James Drury
Drawing workshop of the day: Es Devlin, Library Of The Four Winds, Temple of the Four Winds, Castle Howard, near York, today at 12 noon
TO mark today’s opening of her Library Of The Four Winds installation at the Temple of the Four Winds, Castle Howard, artist and designer Es Devlin will hold a 45-minute outdoor drawing workshop, with materials provided. Further workshops will follow at the installation every Saturday until September 26.
Devlin will be in conversation today with Nicholas Howard and Francis Terry in a 5.30pm event supported by the Georgian Society and National Lottery Heritage Fund. Library Of The Four Winds will be on show until September 27. For full details of the workshops, conversation and installation, go to: castlehoward.co.uk.
The Jazzville Quartet: Performing with Kirsty Hughes at The Old Paint Shop
Cabaret gig of the week: The Old Paint Shop presents The Jazzville Quartet, with Kirsty Hughes, York Theatre Royal Studio, tonight, 8pm
YORK jazz combo The Jazzville Quartet are joined by University of York alumna and Royal Academy of Music graduate Kirsty Hughes, showcasing her love of Judy Garland and the great jazz singers in an intimate cabaret performance.
Piano maestro and arranger Alec Robinson, saxophonist Alex Fisher, double bassist Tim Murgatroyd and drummer Steve Hanley will be exploring the Great American Songbook too in a celebration of swing, Latin classics and haunting jazz ballads. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Shechter II in Hofesh Shechter’s In The Brain at York Theatre Royal.Picture: Todd MacDonald
New dance work of the week: Shechter II in In The Brain, York Theatre Royal, tonight, 7.30pm
HOFESH Shechter’s exhilarating new full-length work for Shechter II, In The Brain, is a raw, electrifying dive into movement, rhythm, and collective energy, taking a pulsing, urgent journey into the depths of our consciousness, where stories dissolve, identity fades and only the beat remains.
In The Brain is a space to break free, to lose yourself, to surrender to the rush of movement, the weight of bass and the euphoria of bodies locked in Shechter’s signature groove. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Abstract artist Mark Ibson
Exhibition of the week: Mark Ibson, Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, York, until July 30
SELF-TAUGHT Bishop Wilton artist Mark Ibson’s abstract works are back on the bakery walls at Bluebird Bakery, where he is exhibiting new artworks in the form of experiments in surface texture and instinctive marking.
Initially a furniture and interior restorer, Ibsen began painting in 2012, holding his debut solo exhibition at Partisan, Micklegate, in May 2027 at the age of 47 after years of quietly painting and honing his skills at his studio in the former Herris Fisher blacksmith’s forge. “It seemed to be a natural progression,” he said at the time.
Ric Liptrot: Taking part in North Yorkshire Open Studios in York this weekend
Open invitation of the weekend: North Yorkshire Open Studios 2026, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm
MORE than 200 artists and makers are taking part in the second weekend of the summer edition of North Yorkshire Open Studios. Among those involved in and around York are Lucie Wake; Alex Ash; Lincoln Lightfoot; Jon Haste; Ali Hunter; Veronica Ongaro; Di Gomery; Jill Tattersall; Evie Leach; Katrina Mansfield and Lesley Shaw.
So too are Lisa Power; Lu Mason; Ric Liptrot; Jo Walton; Kai West; Emily Littler; Hannah Arnup; Michelle Galloway; Janie Stevens; Toby Staunton; Gonzalo Blanco; Andrew Bloodworth; Justine Warner; Graham Jones; Nora Gaston and Freya Horsley. The full list of artists and makers can be found at nyos.org.uk.
Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu: Reborn at Grand Opera House, York
Strictly stars of the week combination number one: Amy & Carlos: Reborn, Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu, Grand Opera House, York, June 16, 7.30pm
AFTER making her stunning return to the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor, Amy Dowden MBE truly feels Reborn in her tour show, accompanied by fellow Strictly professional Carlos Gu.
Back on stage after a triumphant debut season, Amy and Carlos will be sharing an intimate portrait of their lives and journeys, wherein the inspirational and transformative power of dance shines through. Reborn features world-class dancers, live vocalists and a soundtrack of iconic anthems from across the decades. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Nikita Kuzmin: Shining brightly in Supernova with Karen Hauer, on tour at York Barbican
Strictly stars of the week combination number two: Burn The Floor presents Nikita Kuzmin in Supernova, with special guest Karen Hauer, York Barbican, June 16, 7.30pm
STRICTLY Come Dancing fan favourite Nikita Kuzmin takes centre stage in the explosive dance spectacular Supernova, joined by very special guest star Karen Hauer, Strictly’s longest-serving female professional.
Created in collaboration with choreographer and BAFTA award recipient Jason Gilkison and presented by international dance sensations Burn The Floor, Supernova is fuelled by the firepower of world-class performers and global creatives in an evening where artistry meets innovation and Kuzmin’s trademark charm, power and charisma shine brighter than ever. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
NE Theatre York’s poster for next week’s School Edition production of Les Miserables
Youth theatre show of the week: NE Theatre York in Les Miserables School Edition, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, June 16 to 20, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee
ALAIN Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel of redemption will be performed by under-18s from NE Theatre York, directed by Steve Tearle, with a 15-piece orchestra under Joe Allen’s musical direction, projections by Tom Turner and the obligatory barricade in the set design.
The musical tells the story of former prisoner Jean Valjean, who is pursued for 17 years by police inspector Javert against the backdrop of a brewing revolution in 19th-century Paris. The principal cast features Sam Brophy’s Jean Valjean, Will Roberts’s Javert, Emil Marczuk’s Marius, Juliette Sellamuttu’s Fantine, Oscar Smith’s Enjolras, Callum Richardson’s Thenardier and Bella Gledhill’s Madame Thenardier. Box office: 01904 501935 or josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk.
Elvis Costello: Revisiting his 1977-1986 back catalogue in Radio Soul! at York Barbican
York gig of the week: Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello, York Barbican, June 17, 7.45pm
ELVIS Costello plays York Barbican for the first time since May 2013, joined by The Imposters’ Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher and Texan guitarist Charlie Sexton for a set list drawn from 1977’s My Aim Is True to 1896 Blood & Chocolate albums, complemented by “other surprises”.
“For any songwriter, it has to be a compliment if people want to hear songs written up to 50years ago,” says Costello, 71. “You can expect the unexpected and the faithful in equal measure.” His special guest will be Emily Moment. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
Dominic Goodwin in myriad roles in Twice Nightly at Helmsley Arts Centre
Recalling variety’s golden days: Pyramus and Thisbe Productions present Dominic Goodwin in Twice Nightly, Helmsley Arts Centre, June 26 and 27, 7.30pm
WRITER and performer Dominic Goodwin, one-time manager of Helmsley Arts Centre, returns to his old stamping ground with his first one-man comedy show, directed by York director Thomas Frere.
Twice Nightly follows the story of struggling comedian Freddie Francis in 1956 as the final curtain hovers over variety. Many acts of the time are highlighted, including Norman “Over The Garden Wall” Evans (said to be an influence on Les Dawson) Stockton comic Jimmy James, wartime star Robb Wilton and the iconic Max Miller. “It’s been an honour to perform these stars’ material, and even more so to have the backing of the families,” says Goodwin. Box office: 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk.
Al Dunn, Matt Freeman and Nick Bunt in Le Navet Bete’s Oh Zeus!. Picture: Mark Senior
In Focus: Le Navet Bete in Oh Zeus!, York Theatre Royal, June 18 to 20, 7.30pm plus 2pm Saturday matinee
CHAOTIC comedy specialists Le Navet Bete return to York Theatre Royal from tomorrow, this time with their riotous ride through the world of Greek mythology, Oh Zeus!.
The Exeter company previously toured their hit family shows Dracula: The Bloody Truth, King Arthur and Treasure Island to the St Leonard’s Place theatre.
Written by John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete and directed by Nicholson, Oh Zeus! finds the stability of Olympus being threatened by the marriage of Zeus’s daughter, Hebe, to a mere mortal, whereupon the King of the Gods hatches a plan to derail the wedding.
Cue three actors – company founders Al Dunn, Nick Bunt and Matt Freeman – playing 40 characters between them in a mythical farce that journeys through Ancient Greece, the Underworld and back.
Expect physical comedy, outrageous jokes, fast-paced pandemonium and togas aplenty in a show ideal for devotees of Fawlty Towers, Bottom and The Play That Goes Wrong.
Formed in 2008 in Exeter, Devon, Le Navet Bete travel around the UK and internationally, with support from Arts Council England, the Exeter Northcott Theatre and the Exeter Phoenix, on a mission to create and tour humorous, physical and accessible comedy theatre, replete with storytelling for “absolutely everyone (ages four to 104)” – although Oh Zeus! carries an age guidance of 12 plus. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
I Fagiolini, with director Robert Hollingworth, centre, with sparkler: Performing opening concert of 2026 York Early Music Festival
THE 50th anniversary York Early Music Festival will run from July 3 to 11 with the theme of Beyond Borders.
More than 30 concerts will take place in York’s medieval churches, historic buildings and York Minster over nine days.
The festival was created in 1977 by a small group of Early Music enthusiasts and is long established as the premier British Early Music festival, attracting artists and visitors from far and wide.
Anacronia: Making York Early Music Festival on July 4
The festival will open with Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, presented by I Fagiolini with the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, under Robert Hollingworth’s direction, on July 3 at 7pm at the sold-out Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York. This concert will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on July 8.
Last in York for the 2025 York Early Music Christmas Festival, Solomon’s Knot will provide a spectacular summer festival finale at The Quire, York Minster, on July 10 at 7.30pm, when Jonathan Sells will direct singers and musicians performing Friedrich Nicolaus Bruhns’ St Mark Passion by heart.
The festival will mark the 400th anniversary of the death of the great English composer and lutenist John Dowland by dedicating a whole day to his works on A Day Of Dowland on July 6.
Organist Ben Horden: To Lubeck and Bach concert at Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall on July 7
Katherine Butler, associate professor at Northumbria University, will open the day with her sold-out 10.30am talk at Bedern Hall entitled Dowland’s Dolour: Music, Melancholy and Self-Fashioning in Elizabethan England.
Lutenist Thomas Dunford will present a selection of Dowland’s 90-plus compositions in The Rarest Musician at the sold-out St Olave’s Church, Marygate, at 1pm, and the Rose Consort of Viols, featuring lutenist Jamie Akers, will perform Dowland’s Teares Of Sorrowe And Gladnesse in the Undercroft, Merchant Adventurers’ Hall (again sold out,) at 6pm. Music by Orlande de Lassus and Alfonso Ferrabosco will complement works both sorrowful and joyful by Dowland.
Dowland’s day will end with Tears Into Light: A Contemporary Reimagining of John Dowland’s Lachrimae, performed by Imago Mundi, directed by Sofie Vanden Eynde, at the National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, at 8.30pm.
Top: Lutenist Thomas Dunford. Bottom: Imago Mundi director and lutenist Sofie Vanden Eynde. Both taking part in A Day of Dowland on July 6
Drawing on the insights of scholar-philosophers and the concept of inspired melancholy, Tears Into Light explores how melancholy has been understood through history and how it offers a lens for viewing the present. Dowland’s Lachrimae will be interwoven with American traditional music in a reminder that light can always emerge from darkness.
The opening of the 50th festival will be heralded by the York Fanfare, a specially commissioned piece by Wakefield-born Sam Meredith for the 2026 ensemble-in-residence, the historical wind band [hanse] Pfeyfferey, comprising Lilli Patzold, cornetto, Alexandra Mikheeva, slide trumpet and trombone, and Laura Dumpelmann, shawm.
York Fanfare will herald the festival opening, ahead of July 3’s first concert, on the grass outside the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, and then be performed around the city during the opening weekend, including outside the West Door of York Minster before The Sixteen’s 7.30pm concert there on July 4.
The Sixteen: Presenting Siglo de Oro, Music from the Spanish Renaissance, at York Minster on July 4. Picture: Johnny Millar
Directed as ever by Harry Christophers, The Sixteen will present Siglo de Oro, Music from the Spanish Renaissance, featuring works by Sebastian de Vivanc and Cristobal de Morales, Sir James MacMillan’s Nothing In Vain and the world premiere of NCEM Composers Award alumna Kerensa Briggs’s Lead, Kindly Light. BBC Radio 3 will air this concert on July 9.
The Great Noyze, organised by the International Guild of Town Pipers, has moved from College Green, York Minster, to St Sampson’s Square on July at 4pm.
Further highlights will be Minster Minstrels, From Holborne To Handel, at the NCEM on July 5, 11am; University of York Baroque Ensemble, with Ensemble Hesperi (in-house band at University of York), in The Music Party, NCEM, July 7, 12.30pm; organist Ben Horden, To Lubeck and Bach, Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, July 7, 6pm, and Ghent’s B’Rock Orchestra & Vocal Consort, Da Pacem: Sacred Music by Heinrich Schutz and Contemporaries, Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, July 7, 7.30pm.
Mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston: Teaming up with tenor Paul Agnew and lutenist Sergio Buchel for A Gentle Air at Merchant Taylors’ Hall on July 9
Clavichord player Steven Devine’s Preludes, Fugues and Fantasies, at All Saints Church, North Street, on July 8 at 12.30pm, has sold out; Yorkshire Baroque Soloists will perform Amphion Anglicus, Chapter House, York Minster, July 8, 7.30pm, and Early Music will meet jazz and modernity in Duo Gambelin’s All’Improviso, Undercroft, Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, July 8, 9.30pm.
On July 9 at 7pm, mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston, tenor Paul Agnew and lutenist Sergio Buchel will feature French songs by Michel Lambert and Sebastien Le Camus in A Gentle Air at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall. In July 10’s Concert by Candlelight at Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, soprano Hannah Ely, alto Rebekah Jones and tenor Paul Bentley-Angell will perform songs from the courts of 12th-century France in Love From Afar.
Contre le temps: Le Baiser de la Rose programme at NCEM on July 5
At the heart of the festival is the NCEM’s year-round commitment to supporting emerging talent, this year represented by two young European ensembles, NCEM Platform Artists Anacronía, from Spain, in their festival debut at the NCEM on July 4 at 1.30pm, and the Franco/American medievalists Contre le temps, whose Le Baiser de la Rose programme at the NCEM on July 5 at 8.30pm will be recorded for BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show for broadcast on a date yet to be confirmed.
Held every two years, the prestigious York Early Music International Young Artists Competition will feature 40 musicians in nine ensembles competing for a series of prizes in a day of thrilling concerts at the NCEM on July 11 from 10am to 5pm.
Duo Gambelin: Early Music meets jazz and modernity in All’Improviso concert at Undercroft, Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, on July 8
This year’s finalists are: I Mastricelli; Il Parrasio; La Mandorle; Lagrime; Nari Baroque Ensemble; Ossian’s Dream; Quarterino; Tra Noi and The Lyons Mouth (formed at the University of York).
The full programme can be found at ncem.co.uk/whats-on/yemf. Box office: 01904 658338; email at boxoffice@ncem.co.uk; ncem.co.uk or in person from the NCEM.
Festival director Dr Delma Tomlin says: “We’re very excited to be staging our 50th festival, which is brimming with musical delights. The very first festival took place in 1977 and has gone from strength to strength, inspiring the restoration of St Margaret’s Church and the creation of the National Centre for Early Music in 2000.”
York Early Music Festival director Delma Tomlin
“Our 50th edition features world-class ensembles and emerging artists; celebrates the genius of John Dowland; hosts the prestigious York Early Music International Young Artists Competitionand has commissioned the York Fanfare to open the proceedings, making sure the festival gets off to a flying start.
“Last but not least, our media partners, BBC Radio 3 will be back, broadcasting the hugely popular Early Music Show live from the NCEM, presented by Hannah French on July 5 at 5pm with a line-up of guest artists from the festival. We hope you can join us in York for this very special celebration.”
The full programme can be found at ncem.co.uk/whats-on/yemf. Box office: 01904 658338; email at boxoffice@ncem.co.uk; ncem.co.uk or in person from the NCEM.
Solomon’s Knot: Festival finale at York Minster on July 10
Ralf Little’s disillusioned British intelligence officer Alec Leamas in The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. Picture: Johan Persson
COLD War espionage, artist open studios on moor and coast, Wright & Grainger in short form and Elvis Costello’s early years revisited make their mark on culture guide Charles Hutchinson.
Thriller of the week: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, Grand Opera House, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm matinees today, tomorrow and Saturday
FOR the first time, a John le Carré novel is being brought to life on stage by Chichester Festival Theatre in David Eldridge’s adaptation of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, a typically taut tale that journeys through the fog-shrouded terrain of Cold War espionage, deception and moral compromise.
Death In Paradise star Ralf Little’s disillusioned British intelligence officer, Alec Leamas, is ready to come in from the cold, until veteran agent George Smiley persuades him to take one final mission against the East German Secret Service. Deep undercover, Leamas finds his convictions tested and his defences breached by Liz Gold, a quietly defiant librarian, whose compassion threatens to thaw his frostbitten heart. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Rich Hall: Delivering comedy’s version of Chin Music at Pocklington Arts Centre
American comedian of the week: Rich Hall: Chin Music, Pocklington Arts Centre, tonight, 8pm
THE expression “chin music” has two meanings. One is idle talk; the other is a ‘brushback’ throw in baseball or cricket to intimidate the batter. Both describe North Carolina-born Rich Hall’s comedy: idle but intimidating, sharp, quick, splenetic and improvisational. Don’t duck out of seeing him in action in Pocklington tonight. Box office: 017589 301547 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk.
Florence Poskitt’s Rita and Jamie McKeller’s Frank in Black Treacle Theatre’s Educating Rita at Theatre@41, Monkgate, York
Literature lessons of the week: Black Treacle Theatre in Educating Rita, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm
YORK actors Florence Poskitt and Jamie McKeller team up for the first time under Jim Paterson’s direction in Willy Russell’s warm, witty and moving double-hander about the power of education to change lives. When Rita, a working-class hairdresser hungry for something more, signs up for an Open University literature course, she meets disillusioned academic Frank, whose passion for teaching has long faded.
Their weekly tutorials become a battle of ideas, humour and honesty as Rita’s confidence blossoms and Frank reckons with his own choices and the possibility of a second chance. Change comes with difficult choices for both student and tutor, who must reconsider who they are and who they want to be. Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.
The Bluffs’ poster for Unwritten: The Literary Improv Show at Rise@Bluebird Bakery
Unscripted silliness of the week: Unwritten: The Literary Improv Show, Rise@Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, York, tomorrow, 8.30pm, doors 7.30pm
YORK troupe The Bluffs take classic short-form improv games and infuse them with storytelling flair in an evening of laughter, silliness and plot twists. Each fast-paced show is shaped by audience suggestions and spontaneous creativity. Expect scenes inspired by classic literature, unexpected character mash-ups and even a fanfiction-inspired musical number.
The Bluffs are drawn from a melange of theatrical, comedy and musical backgrounds, from festival stages to pantomime and competitive Theatresports. Box office: eventbrite.com/e/unwritten-the-literary-improv-show-tickets-1984763723726.
Easingwold creative duo Wright & Grainger: Presenting Say It & Play It at The Old Paint Shop
The Old Paint Shop presents: Wright & Grainger Say It & Play it, York Theatre Royal Studio, tomorrow, 8pm
FRIENDS and working partners since Easingwold schooldays, Wright & Grainger serve a carefully curated evening of stories, poems, songs and gentle chaos. Known for their internationally acclaimed adaptations of Ancient Greek myths, sometimes they do something a tad different.
Hence Say It & Play It will be a set full of Alexander Flanagan Wright & Phil Grainger’s shorter collaborative works, the poems that stand on their own, the beautiful tracks they have been writing. “It’s a gorgeous weave of our home-grown stuff, grown and told on home turf,” they say. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
Paul Weller: Heading back to the East Coast to play Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Seaside excursion of the week: Paul Weller, TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Friday, gates 6pm
PAUL Weller follows up April’s release of Weller At The BBC Vol 2 with his return to Scarborough Open Air Theatre for the first time since July 7 2024. The Modfather, 68, will be expected to draw on material from his days in The Jam and Style Council, as well as his solo years, from 1992’s self-titled debut to July 2025’s Find El Dorado. Box office: scarboroughopenairtheatre.com.
Mark Butler: Taking part in North Yorkshire Open Studios 2026
North Yorkshire Open Studios 2026, Moors and Coast, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm
MORE than 200 artists and makers are taking part in the second weekend of the summer edition of North Yorkshire Open Studios, including 73 representing the Moors and Coast. Among them will be Boo Barwick-Ward; Iona May Stock; Jo Naden; Sarah Sharpe, Alison Spaven; Anna Matyus; Pam Edwards; Deborah Wilkinson; Iona Harrison; Jonathan Pomroy and Stephen Bird.
So too will Rory Menage; Sue Slack; Mike Nowill; Studio Milena; Clare Belbin; Elizabeth Bailey; Lyn Bailey; Pauline Brown; Sally Parkin; Nettle Cottage Prints; Slab and Slip; Rebecca Callis; Kate Brown; Jess Shaw; Martin Gittins; Alice O’Neil and Gillies Jones. Full details can be found at nyos.org.uk.
Elvis Costello: Revisiting his early years in his Radio Soul! show at York Barbican. Picture: Ray Di Pietro
York gig of the week: Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello, York Barbican, June 17,7.45pm
ELVIS Costello plays York Barbican for the first time since May 2013, joined by The Imposters’ Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher and Texan guitarist Charlie Sexton for a set list drawn from 1977’s My Aim Is True to 1896 Blood & Chocolate albums, complemented by “other surprises”.
“For any songwriter, it has to be a compliment if people want to hear songs written up to 50years ago,” says Costello, 71. “You can expect the unexpected and the faithful in equal measure.” His special guest will be Emily Moment. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
Dominic Goodwin: Performing Twice Nightly over two nights at Helmsley Arts Centre
Recalling variety’s golden days: Pyramus and Thisbe Productions present Dominic Goodwin in Twice Nightly, Helmsley Arts Centre, June 26 and 27, 7.30pm
DOMINIC Goodwin, one-time manager of Helmsley Arts Centre, returns to his old stamping ground with his first one-man comedy show, written and performed by Goodwin and directed by York director Thomas Frere.
Twice Nightly follows the story of struggling comedian Freddie Francis in 1956 as the final curtain hovers over variety. Many acts of the time are highlighted, including Norman “Over The Garden Wall” Evans (said to be an influence on Les Dawson) Stockton comic Jimmy James, wartime star Robb Wilton and the iconic Max Miller. “It’s been an honour to perform these stars’ material, and even more so to have the backing of the families,” says Goodwin. Box office: 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk.
York printmaker Michelle Hughes holding a copy of her debut book, Printing Birds and Wildlife in Linocut
In Focus
Book event of the week: An Evening with Michelle Hughes, Printing Birds and Wildlife in Linocut, Kemps Books, Malton, tonight, 7.30pm
YORK linocut printmaker discusses her debut book, Printing Birds and Wildlife in Linocut, her creative story and upcoming tenth anniversary in business at Kemps Books. “Liz Kemp has been a huge supporter of my printmaking journey, selling my original prints in the early days, greeting cards over the years, and now stocking my book,” says Michelle. “Do come along and support a fabulous indie gift shop and bookshop.”
Published in February 2026, Michelle’s beautifully illustrated book shares how to design, carve and print birds and wildlife using traditional linocut techniques, guiding readers from simple one-colour prints through to more advanced multi-colour methods, including jigsaw, reduction and multi-block printing.
“Whether you are completely new to linocut or already exploring printmaking, the book offers clear step-by-step guidance, practical tips and creative inspiration for capturing birds and wildlife in this rewarding craft,” says Michelle.
“During the evening you’ll enjoy my short talk about my journey to becoming a professional printmaker; behind-the-scenes insights into how the book was created, with a chance to see original prints and lino blocks featured in the book and a Q&A session about linocut printmaking, followed by a book signing.
Come and celebrate wildlife, printmaking and the joy of carving and printing by hand.” Tickets must be booked in advance in person in store or at kempsgeneralstore.co.uk/pages/events.
Fisherman’s Friends: In harmony at York Barbican next spring
FISHERMAN’S Friends will make York Barbican a port of call on April 2 on their 34-date 2027 British tour.
The Cornish folk harmony group will play further Yorkshire concerts at Sheffield City Hall on March 19, Victoria Theatre, Halifax, April 23, and Bridlington Spa, November 7 2027.
Fresh from their sold-out 2026 UK dates and an Australia tour earlier this year, Fisherman’s Friends ran their inaugural Fisherman’s Friends Festival at Stithians Showground, Cornwall, in a landmark three-day celebration of music, maritime heritage and Cornish culture from May 28 to 30.
At a time when rising costs and industry pressures have seen many UK festivals forced to scale back, postpone or close altogether, the launch of a new independent festival marked a significant achievement, underlining both the enduring appeal of Fisherman’s Friends and their commitment to championing Cornwall’s culture, community and live music scene.
For a group whose remarkable story has inspired two hit feature films, 2019’s Fisherman’s Friends and 2022’s Fisherman’s Friends: One And All, and the touring stage musical Fisherman’s Friends The Musical, the 2027 tour marks yet another chapter in an extraordinary journey that began with friends singing on the harbour in Port Isaac to raise money for local causes.
The tour will see Fisherman’s Friends perform across the UK from February through to November 2027, returning to theatres and concert halls nationwide with the humour, camaraderie and stirring harmonies that have made them one of Britain’s best-loved live acts.
Fisherman’s Friends said: “To be announcing another UK tour while opening our very first festival in Cornwall feels incredibly special. We never imagined when we started singing on The Platt in Port Isaac that it would lead us here.
“Launching a festival in Cornwall and seeing audiences continue to support live music means a great deal to us. We’re looking forward to getting back out on the road and seeing audiences around the country once again.”
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In the meantime, contact is more than welcome by email at charles.hutchinson104@gmail.com. Hutch is very happy to arrange interviews on Zoom too.
Normal lines of communication will be resumed pronto and the website will function as normal.
Teddy Thompson: Showcasing new album Never Be The Same at All Saints Church, Pocklington. Picture: Paul Rhodes
BOOKING a lover of period touches like Teddy Thompson into Pocklington’s beautiful All Saints Church was a good move.
This wonderful Hurricane Promotions concert was further helped by the fact that Thompson has happy memories of Pocklington, at least the fish and chips, and he was in good form. He has a well-spoken, dry and ironic sense of humour that provided the warmth between songs.
There was plenty of affection too for fan favourite Blair Dunlop. Dunlop sounds fully committed to his Americana sound and showed off new songs in his brisk opening set. Trilobite might be 500 million years out factually but was musically on the money, while Sweet On You could almost be a Teddy Thompson song with its charming surface and darker interior.
Blair Dunlop performing at All Saints Church, Pocklington. Picture: Paul Rhodes
Some singers close their eyes as they sing; Dunlop smiled often. Thompson, on the other hand, stared unnervingly straight ahead, which gave him and his material an edge.
On a casual introduction, Thompson’s new record, Never Be The Same, seems a fairly slight thing, full of short lovelorn songs that sound straight out of the 1960s’ gold era of country pop.
Listen more than once and you’ll be hooked by the clever lyrics, wonderful period production and some gorgeous melodies.
Teddy Thompson’s set list for June 6’s concert at All Saints Church, Pocklington. Picture: Paul Rhodes
As Thompson talked about in his interview with Miles Salter for York Calling, restraint is a key part of his songwriting approach, so each tune is a finely chiselled thing. In concert too, the songs were played straight by a three-piece band (with Mike Robinson on guitars and Chris Jones on drums).
By some sleight of hand, the drummer also was able to add in extra keys, strings and to this reviewer’s ears something at the bottom end.
The Pocklington crowd was treated to ten numbers off that record over the course of the 17-song set, which also revisited some older material. While the first three songs were taken at a clip and sounded a bit too bright, it grew much better.
Teddy Thompson, centre, and his band, guitarist Mike Robinson and drummer Chris Jones, on stage at All Saints Church, Pocklington. Picture: Paul Rhodes
The older songs revealed that Thompson hasn’t wandered too far stylistically in the intervening 26 years. Step Behind, from his first record, showed his style was essentially there from the get-go.
As the sun set and lit up the old stone columns that framed the band, Thompson was by this point fully warmed up, and the wonder that is his singing voice really shone.
I Remember, which sounds like it could have been a country hit for Skeeter Davis, was wonderful and what could have been a Buck Owens riff, while Same Old Song (ironic, but true in a set list that did rather sound the same and stick in the same tempos) was full of lovely period references.
All Saints Church lit up at Teddy Thompson’s concert. Picture: Paul Rhodes
The encore deserved to bring the house down, with a clever solo version of So This Is Heartache. The best song on the new record by a country mile, where it sounds like a lost Stax country classic, Pocklington saw it in naked, devastating form.
The band returned and the anthemic In My Arms rounded off the set. That this song only made it to number 107 tells you everything that is wrong with music charts. Like any number from his catalogue, you wonder when someone else will make it a hit. Until then Thompson remains a well-preserved cult figure ripe for a larger audience.
Review by Paul Rhodes
BLAIR Dunlop will be on the main stage at The Magpies Festival, Sutton Park, Sutton-on-the-Forest, near York, on August 15. Full festival details can be found at https://www.themagpiesfestival.co.uk/.
The instruments set up for Teddy Thompson’s set at All Saints Church, Pocklington. Picture: Paul Rhodes
IN its 150th year, York Musical Society joined with Philharmonischer Chor Münster and The Ebor Singers to perform Elgar’s The Dream Of Gerontius.
Intensely passionate, strangely driven, deeply spiritual: just three ways to describe this wonderful performance delivered by David Pipe and his choir and orchestra of more than 250.
The passion is right there with the conductor. He embodies the music, every part of him leading this dance, almost balletic in his own movements. Whilst the three choirs have been rehearsing separately, David Pipe’s ability to bring them together on the day is remarkable witness to his outstanding musical leadership.
Sam Furness’s first line, a prayer, after the orchestral introduction, “Jesus Maria – I am near to death and thou art calling me”, was delivered sotto voce and with gorgeous restraint. This was both deeply felt and perhaps a little operatic – hardly surprising that Elgar drew inspiration from Wagner.
Furness handled the many facets of Gerontius’s emotional and spiritual journey with ease, delivering closely knit contrasting lines with consummate skill.
The orchestra accompanied choirs and soloists with great sensitivity. Towards the end of the piece, the Angel sings pianissimo, Softly and gently, dearly ransomed soul. The soloist and orchestra almost melted into each other with the tenderness and assurance of these words.
Kate Symonds-Joy’s Angel gave an exquisite performance throughout, almost still in the quieter moments, yet she gave spell-binding fortissimos, for example in the preamble to the great chorus, “Praise to the holiest”.
James Cleverton, as the Priest and Angel of the Agony, sang with great power throughout, deliberately contrasting with the voices of Gerontius and the Angel.
The three choirs were brought together to produce a great sound. Imitations of laughing (Ha! ha!) were vigorously proclaimed, whilst the great crescendo in “To Praise to the holiest” was delivered with warmth and accuracy. The orchestral accompaniment was always steadfast, flexible and sensitive to the singers.
Such events as these belong to amateur singers who are part of Great Britain and Germany’s great choral societies. This is difficult music both in its technical reach and emotional charge. Their dedicated work over a period of months comes to fruition on this one night. It was good to see both Dr Martin Henning, director of Philharmonischer Chor Münster, alongside David Pipe taking a bow.
Thank you for a terrific evening. Our great choral tradition remains in confident hands.
Review by Tim Robinson, musician, choral and chamber concert reviewer and former Church of England vicar at All Saints’ Church, Helmsley, serving Helmsley and Upper Ryedale Benefice for 11 years until retirement in 2021; also as Area Dean of Northern Ryedale.
