Rick's Music Gigs Review Page#7 - 2016

Wotton Concert Series, St Mary's Church, Wotton-under-Edge, 26th November 2016: Instruments and Voices of Time and Truth (Ben Hoffnung conductor). It was all Mozart tonight: Divertimento (K136); Missa Brevis (K194); Ave Verum Corpus (K618); Dixit Dominus and Magnifiocat (K193); Vesperae Solennes de Confessore (K339). They did what seems to be an increasingly common trick of embedding the Andante and Presto movements of the Divertimento in the Missa Brevis. The alto voices featured two counter-tenors, which also seems to be increasingly common. I do not count myself a Mozart fan, but the lyricism of the Vesperae's Laudate Dominum convinced me to put the piece on my Christmas present list (duly delivered).

Wotton Arts Festival Concert, St Mary's Church, Wotton-under-Edge, 30th April 2016. The Bristol Ensemble and the Bath Camerata, with Christopher Brown the guest cello soloist on Elegie. Holst (St.Paul's Suite), Britten (Hymn to St.Cecelia), Faure (Elegie), Britten (Simple Symphony) and in the whole of the second half: Handel (Dixit Dominus). This was a blisteringly good performance from both players and singers. I was a little worried about the Britten, whom I generally find impenetrable. But these pieces were anything but. First rate.

Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival, 2016: Soft Machine, Bristol Colston Hall, The Lantern, Sunday, March 20th 2016. The line-up was supposed to be John Etheridge, John Marshall, Roy Babbington and Theo Travis but John Marshall was not well so there was a stand-in drummer. The intended line-up is how the Softs have appeared for the last few years, including Theo Travis on saxophones and flute, the newest member. This incarnation was previously Soft Machine Legacy, but it appears they now have rights to the Soft Machine name. Mostly the set was from their last two albums, under the Legacy name. But they played a version of Hazard Profile which was a pleasant surprise - though I have to say, John, it was not as good as the Allan Holdsworth original version. An enjoyable, but all too short set.

The Wotton Concert Series: The Schubert Ensemble of London, St Mary's, Wotton-under-Edge, 6th February 2016. William Howard (piano), Simon Blendis (violin), Douglas Paterson (viola), Peter Buckoke (double bass), Jane Salmon (cello). Schubert (The Trout Quintet, D.667), Schumann (Piano Quartet, E flat major, Op.47), Martin Butler (American Rounds, 1998). To be honest, not really my cup of tea. But, as usual for the Wotton Concert Series, absolutely excellent musicianship. Well up to the very high standards of this series.