tue 05/11/2024

Bostridge, Europa Galante, Barbican | reviews, news & interviews

Bostridge, Europa Galante, Barbican

Bostridge, Europa Galante, Barbican

A coldy conductor complements a sizzling-hot ensemble in Baroque arias for tenor

Three for the price of one: Bostridge looks to the famous tenors of the Baroque

We have good days and we have bad days. Ian Bostridge, at last night’s concert at the Barbican, was not having one of his better ones. But time and CD releases wait for no man, and so he gamely ploughed through his programme of music written for three great Baroque tenors (no prizes for guessing what the title of the album is – do you think EMI would pass up an opportunity like that?), and by the end appeared a little more comfortable than at what was a rather tentative start.

We have good days and we have bad days. Ian Bostridge, at last night’s concert at the Barbican, was not having one of his better ones. But time and CD releases wait for no man, and so he gamely ploughed through his programme of music written for three great Baroque tenors (no prizes for guessing what the title of the album is – do you think EMI would pass up an opportunity like that?), and by the end appeared a little more comfortable than at what was a rather tentative start.

Europa Galante is the dryly witty uncle of Italian Baroque groups: it doesn’t set out to shock, but it comes up with some fantastic stories

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Comments

why was this concert broadcast instead of Alice Coote as advertised? Did shed cancel again?

With all due respect, Mr. Wikeley, I only marginally recognise the concert I attended in your description above. Mr. Bostridge did sound tight initially and did seem somewhat underpowered (fatigued I thought), but even before the interval and certainly afterward he rallied and delivered a lovely concert, if not one of his absolute best perhaps. If I had only read your commentary without seeing the event for myself I would have believed he had been croaking, breaking, and forcing throughout as he "gamely ploughed through". You are a hard marker, sir. There was a great deal to enjoy in his performance.

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