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It’s Day’s night, and no one is going to spoil her story
A Sentimental Journey
Film
This is a shocking, replenishing film, not to be missed
Green Zone
Restaurants
It is great that Bruno Loubet is back — and at prices that are eminently fair
Bistro Bruno Loubet
The action and direction are superb and the acting good, but the plot is so pathetic it defies belief
Wonderful - beautifully acted and gloriously funny, particularly Simon Russell Beale and Fiona Shaw
Probably the most important photography exhibition london has ever seen
London,
Barry Millington's rating
Reader rating
The Choir of King's college, Cambridge
For a festival that boasts Rolls-Royce as its principal sponsor there could be no more appropriate opening act than the Choir of King's College, Cambridge.
King's has always been the sleekest, most flawless of the Anglican collegiate choirs and under Stephen Cleobury they brought immaculate voicing and seamless phrasing to this programme of Spanish and English Renaissance music (Spain is the main theme of this year's festival).
Whether those virtues are enough to succeed with Tom·s Luis de Victoria is a moot point: this composer's fiery, sensual music surely needs to be projected with more drama and passion.
Without the unique acoustic of its Chapel to buttress it, the tone of the choir tended to tail off precisely when more vibrancy was needed.
The plangent, lamenting quality of Weelkes's When David Heard similarly failed to register, though the more softly grained setting of the same words by Tomkins came over better.
More successful were the celebratory motets of Gibbons, notably O Clap your Hands, where expressive polyphony and chordal affirmation were skilfully combined.
Instrumental items by Cabezon and the English composers were supplied by the accomplished viol consort Fretwork.
Festival runs to 24 May. Information: 020 7222 1061.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
