A report by Tweet on Vox Luminis II at #AldeburghFestival2019

A report, by Tweet, on Vox Luminis II at Aldeburgh Festival 2019

More views of - or before - Cambridge Film Festival 2019 (17 to 24 October)
(Click here to go directly to the Festival web-site)

17 June

A report, by Tweet, on Vox Luminis II at Aldeburgh Festival 2019
(a concert of Handel and Britten, both setting Dryden, given at Snape Maltings on Sunday 16 June 2019 at 7.30 p.m.)

Prelude :

Always good to be at the @PloughandSail, and necessary to have one's non-musical space here when at @snapemaltings for Aldeburgh Festival [for Music and the Arts] :

Very glad to hear @VLuminis again for to-night's and Tuesday's concerts (duck terrine and sea bass to follow) !

— THE AGENT APSLEY #ScrapUniversalCredit #JC4PM2019 (@THEAGENTAPSLEY) June 16, 2019

Image by David-Samyn

Justly so, and with recognition of not only the tight playing of the band around whom the vocalists were ranged, but also generous appreciation of all four soloists, especially the soprano duettists. More Handel to come...

— THE AGENT APSLEY #ScrapUniversalCredit #JC4PM2019 (@THEAGENTAPSLEY) June 16, 2019

And Ronan Kernoa, on cello, exceptionally demonstrated compelling musicianship in an extended introduction to one of the soprano arias. So much to value here (and the cheers were even longer and louder), but just the sight of people who can be seen enjoying making music together.

— THE AGENT APSLEY #ScrapUniversalCredit #JC4PM2019 (@THEAGENTAPSLEY) June 16, 2019

Except that that is tosh :

Britten was setting (recollections of) Auden !

— THE AGENT APSLEY #ScrapUniversalCredit #JC4PM2019 (@THEAGENTAPSLEY) June 17, 2019

Concluding comments :

As one has learnt to expect, sensitive and sincere performance from Vox Luminis, under the direction of the affable Lionel Meunier - one senses, even from the encore, that this ensemble does not perform repertoire in which it does not believe.


Postlude :

Overheard after @VLuminis at @snapemaltings :

'Yes, she had a lovely voice, a pure voice without vibrato, but not strong enough to be an opera-singer'

1. Handel was a v. fine composer of Baroque opera

2. Bel canto isn't the 'real' opera

— THE AGENT APSLEY #ScrapUniversalCredit #JC4PM2019 (@THEAGENTAPSLEY) June 17, 2019

If you want to Tweet, Tweet away here

Unless stated otherwise, all films reviewed were screened at Festival Central (Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge)

In praise of Praise

More views of - or before - Cambridge Film Festival 2014 (28 August to 7 September)
(Click here to go directly to the Festival web-site)

12 June

If praise is an ingredient, we might use heaped spoonfuls... Yet - whatever it is - it *isn't* an ingredient, but it still 'gets heaped'...
— THE AGENT APSLEY (@THEAGENTAPSLEY) June 12, 2014

Praise has been * lavished / spent / larded * on a new book Criticism will be * directed / marshalled / levelled * against it #Registers
— THE AGENT APSLEY (@THEAGENTAPSLEY) June 12, 2014

If you want to Tweet, Tweet away here

Unless stated otherwise, all films reviewed were screened at Festival Central (Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge)