Aneurin Bevan’s personal security file was ‘remarkably tame’ – National Archives Some in UK’s security services questioned why Welsh Labour firebrand was of interest The Guardian - UK · Oct 21
‘It’s a symbol of hope and defiance for Ume Sámi and its speakers’: singer Katarina Barruk on her Proms debut Joiking comes to the Proms this weekend in a collaboration between Katarina Barruk and violinist Pekka Kuusisto. The two tell us how they have enriched each other’s musical worlds The Guardian - UK · Aug 29, 2025
When Paul McCartney met Michael Tippett at the opera Brief letters: Musical greats | Sex education | On the pulse | Mar-a-Lago deal | Ageing letter writers | Wordiply The Guardian - UK · Aug 21, 2025
LPO/Gardner/Akhmetshina review – Tippett’s rose lake sounds glorious Star mezzo Aigul Akhmetshina shone in Ravel’s Shéhérazade, part of a vivid London Philharmonic programme of music evoking fairytales and far horizons The Guardian - UK · Aug 11, 2025
Letter: Elgar Howarth obituary Meirion Bowen writes: He devoted a lot of his time to new music, helping a wide range of composers achieve their aims The Guardian - UK · Feb 2, 2025
Tippett: Piano Concerto; Symphony No 2 album review – the energy of the music is irrepressible Edward Gardner conducts first-rate performances of two rarely recorded works, bringing Tippett’s musical language into sharp focus The Guardian - UK · Jan 9, 2025
New Year review – Blake’s 7, redemption and rap as Birmingham Opera Company turn to Tippett This staging of Michael Tippett’s complex opera, whose story of impoverished 80s Britain takes in sci-fi, street slang and electric guitar, is a remarkable feat. The Guardian - UK · Jul 8, 2024
Gardner/LPO review – tautly controlled Tippett, and whoops for Seong-Jin Cho’ The starry Korean pianist’s account of Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto was joyous and compelling, while Gardner made a persuasive case for Tippett’s divisive second symphony The Guardian - UK · Apr 11, 2024
BBC Proms: Britten Sinfonia/Thomas Gould review - the ensemble takes on Max Richter with unfussy panache The Tomas Gould-directed Proms was both daring and energetic Evening Standard · Sep 7, 2023
A welcome revival for Michael Tippett Letter: The composer was ahead of his time, writes his close friend and artistic associate Meirion Bowen The Guardian - UK · Jul 16, 2023
‘Fascinating’ Tippett letter reveals composer changed by prison Exclusive: Pacifist composer’s intimate 1943 jail letter ‘best Tippett discovery for 50 years’ The Guardian - UK · Jul 8, 2023
Classical home listening: more Eric Coates from John Wilson; Serse from Harry Bicket; and John Bridcut’s new film Wilson and the BBC Philharmonic mine more gems by the neglected British composer; the English Concert and a stellar cast excel in Handel’s opera seria; and Bridcut gets to the heart of Michael Tippett The Guardian - UK · Jun 3, 2023
LPO/Gardner review – magical outing for Tippett’s ‘unplayable’ piano concerto Coleridge-Taylor’s stately, long-lost Solemn Prelude and a crisp, exploratory interpretation of Elgar’s first symphony completed a trio of English compositions The Guardian - UK · Jan 27, 2023
Private schools offer unjustifiable benefit There is no place for state acquiescence in paid-for education The Guardian - UK · Dec 11, 2022
The Guardian - UK · Dec 3, 2022 The week in classical: It’s a Wonderful Life; A Child of Our Time; IMS Prussia Cove – review ENO’s warm-hearted production of Jake Heggie’s operatic take on the classic Frank Capra film is full of poignant ironies
Evening Standard · Nov 28, 2022 A Child of our Time/Serenade to Music, LPO/Gardner at the Royal Festival Hall concert review - inspired These two pieces are rarely played together but it turned out to work perfectly
Chronicle Live · Nov 16, 2022 Historic show as Newcastle Bach Choir and Newcastle University Symphony Orchestra perform in Newcastle Cathedral The choir will be joined by the Newcastle University Symphony Orchestra at Newcastle Cathedral on Saturday 26th November at 7.30pm
The Guardian - UK · Oct 25, 2022 Timothy O’Brien obituary Stage designer who worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company, at the National Theatre in London and opera houses in the UK and abroad
The Guardian - UK · Sep 29, 2022 The Midsummer Marriage review – Tippett’s heady mix has the recording it deserves Gardner captures perfectly the overflowing exuberance of Tippett’s score, with Toby Spence and Jennifer France an ideal Jack and Bella