Simon Thompson

Music, opera and theatre reviews for @thetimes, @WhatsOnStage, @bachtrack, @SeenandHeardint & @theartsdesk. Firm believer that Bruckner gets a bad rap.

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of a blockbuster @RSNO season finale led by Patrick Hahn, their super Principal Guest Conductor. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 @bachtrack

[Bachtrack @bachtrack]

Joy unbounded: Beethoven 9 ends the @RSNO’s season with blockbuster flair
✍️ Simon Thompson
https://t.co/P3e4a79FeV

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of The Long Drop @citizenstheatre , a show in Glasgow, of Glasgow, about Glasgow (and some nasty true murders). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️@whatsonstage

[WhatsOnStage @WhatsOnStage]

The Long Drop at Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre – review https://t.co/EqwNTE1t9T

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of this weekend's @RSNO concert @theusherhall with the dependably excellent Patrick Hahn. Ecstasy, death, and sometimes both at once. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ @thetimes

https://t.co/EKmqgc6hQG

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of Once, Alan Cumming's first show as Artistic Director of @pitlochryft, and he doesn't play it safe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @WhatsOnStage

[WhatsOnStage @WhatsOnStage]

Once musical at Pitlochry Festival Theatre – review https://t.co/wdmHRYtCZJ

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of Nicola Benedetti scaling the heights of Elgar's violin concerto with @RSNO, alongside @KKarabits's fabulous take on The Firebird. Better brush over Nagillar, however... ⭐⭐⭐⭐ @bachtrack

[Bachtrack @bachtrack]

Elgarian emotion and Eastern exoticism from Benedetti, Karabits and the @RSNO
✍️Simon Thompson
https://t.co/hTorIU4NbL

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of @ScottishOpera's Marriage of Figaro. Well sung and expertly directed, it's touring Scotland until June 20. Catch it while you can. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @thetimes

https://t.co/om7PqVdkRg

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of Sweat @citizenstheatre, also arriving later this month @lyceumedinburgh: a raw and powerful exploration not just of working class dilemmas but of human passions. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @WhatsOnStage

[WhatsOnStage @WhatsOnStage]

Sweat at Glasgow's Citizens Theatre – review https://t.co/wSXypH6gWO

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review @thetimes of this year's @tectonicsglas with @BBCSSO & Ilan Volkov: infuriating in places, but often lots of fun. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ @TimesArts

https://t.co/E9IBZdfZhr

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of Frances Poet's warm, funny, moving new play @TronTheatre with @NTSonline. Probably the most entertaining play you'll ever see about an industrial dispute. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ @WhatsOnStage

[WhatsOnStage @WhatsOnStage]

Stand and Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit-in at Glasgow's Tron Theatre and on tour – review https://t.co/Ch9U1O05NR

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of @RSNO playing with the dazzling duo of John Wilson and Stephen Hough @theusherhall last weekend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @bachtrack

[Bachtrack @bachtrack]

Piano wizardry: Stephen Hough makes a convincing case for Rachmaninov 1 with the
@RSNO
✍️ Simon Thompson
https://t.co/oXTE8R7MK5

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Rafael R. Villalobos tries to turn Un Ballo in Maschera into something it isn't, and has Anna Netrebko passed her peak? Here's my review of Berlin's new Ballo on @SeenandHeardInt

https://t.co/vOVt6trkbp

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review @SeenandHeardInt of Berlin Staatsoper's Festtage Rosenkavalier. Let's just say I was in pieces by the end of Act 1. 🌹

https://t.co/AAqDXNKBIX

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

@RichardBratby Ha! You're very kind (and, of course, entirely correct).

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here’s my review of @ScottishOpera’s brave foray back into Wagner, their concert staging of Tristan und Isolde. Variable singing, but powerful, stripped-back drama. See it on Wednesday @theusherhall. @thetimes @timesculture

https://t.co/DPFFuTYkN9

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of Donald Runnicles conducting @BBCSSO last weekend in Mahler 2. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @theartsdesk

https://t.co/pJ4savng7C

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review on @SeenandHeardInt of @RSNO's concert last weekend. Jörg Widmann conducts his own music with vim, but his Beethoven is more patchy (or was that down to where I was sitting?).

https://t.co/3iTygSnDfQ

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of a bleak but beautiful Waiting for Godot from @citizenstheatre Glasgow. Two star central performances that work as a team. Also going to @LivEveryPlay & @octagontheatre. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 @WhatsOnStage

[WhatsOnStage @WhatsOnStage]

Waiting for Godot at Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre – review https://t.co/dSaE6KVG4N

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of @lyceumedinburgh's Cinderella: A Fairytale, an encouraging return to form for the Lyceum's Christmas shows. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @WhatsOnStage.

https://t.co/g9BJOasOsR

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here's my review of what happened when @NickyBenedetti's UK tour arrived @GCHalls: a new line-up with some new arrangements for a new album. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ In today's @thetimes @timesculture

https://t.co/fPBHjeqgBA

[Simon Thompson @SimonTMusic]

Here’s my review of Paul Philbert’s farewell to ⁦@RSNO⁩, a timpani concerto written for him by Matthew Rooke. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ in today’s ⁦@thetimes⁩, ⁦@timesculture⁩

https://t.co/jw23awN8Ik