Entertainment

The week in classical: The Dead City; Black Angels; Re:sound – review

  • 01. Apr 2023. 18:21
  • By The EU Times
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The week in classical music saw two high-profile events take place in London. The English National Opera's (ENO) revival of The Dead City at the Coliseum, and the much-anticipated world premiere of George Crumb's Black Angels at Kings Place.

At the Coliseum, ENO revived its 2016 production of The Dead City, a chamber opera by composer Paul Mealor and librettist Owen Sheers. Directed by Annilese Miskimmon, the story follows a soldier returning from war to a city that has been devastated by war. The production was a powerful and timely reminder of the devastating effects of war, and the emotional turmoil that comes with it. The staging of the production was striking and the performances of the cast were captivating.

At Kings Place, the world premiere of George Crumb's Black Angels was performed by the Manchester Collective. The piece was composed to accompany a screening of the 1971 film, The Exorcist. Crumb's score is a powerful and moving exploration of themes of death, darkness, and the afterlife. The performance was stunning, with the musicians creating a haunting and ethereal atmosphere.

Also this week, Re:sound – Voices of our Cities was held at Kings Place. The event, produced in partnership with Streetwise Opera, saw the BBC Concert Orchestra perform works by young composers from across the UK. The pieces were inspired by the stories and experiences of people living in cities, and were performed with energy and passion.

All in all, it was an exciting and inspiring week of classical music in London. The Dead City was a powerful and timely reminder of the horrors of war, Black Angels brought George Crumb's haunting score to life, and Re:sound provided an opportunity to hear the music of young composers from across the country.