The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra’s amazing app and website GSO Play will be releasing the video of my recent Mahler 2 there on 5th February so put it in your diary… You will have 28 days to indulge your senses with the miraculous Andrés Orozco-Estrada conducting and Karen Cargill’s infamous tonsils wrapping a silk glove around Urlicht. The orchestra play with their souls on fire. Not to be missed!
All posts by Liz Watts
Britten’s Spring Symphony with Rattle and LSO wins award
Rattle’s Spring Symphony has just won Classica magazine’s Orchestral Album of the Year as part of the LSO’s Britten box set. I was only a very small cog in this wheel but very happy memories of a great project and performance. Bravi tutti!
Live recording of Songs of Nadia Anjuman out now
The recording of Richard Blackford’s acclaimed song cycle Songs of Nadia Anjuman featuring the Britten Sinfonia is now available on CD and on Spotify. The concerts garnered rave reviews and these songs nominated for both Sky Arts and Novello Awards. Listen on Spotify here:
5 star reviews for Liz sing-directing Songs of Nadja Anjuman with Britten Sinfonia
Well, that was fun and people seemed to enjoy it… It was the most wonderful experince to conduct the Britten Sinfonia in this most moving and beautiful piece by Richard Blackford. Here what the reviews said…
“It was superbly performed by the Britten Sinfonia and Elizabeth Watts, who not only sang the solo part with flawless musicality and extraordinary passion, but somehow also managed to conduct the players as well.”
Richard Morrison, The Times
”Watts captured the spirituality of Finzi’s Dies Natalis while a tribute to Afghan poet Nadia Anjuman was sung with overwhelming commitment.”Martin Kettle, The Guardian
Handel Brockes Passion with Academy of Ancient Music and Richard Egarr
Brich mein Herz from Handel’s Brockes Passion with AAM
Vaughan Williams Symphony No 3 ‘Pastoral’ / BBCSO / Brabbins
I’m back!
I have finally got over my pandemic superstition and remembered my passwords to be back on here… Bear with me for a few days whilst I update things. Lots of fun gigs coming up, including Beethoven 9 and Royal Festival Hall, London, this week. Stay tuned…
Ligeti fun!
Busy bee!
Well it’s all been happening for Elizabeth in the past year or so but the busy-ness of twins Cecily & Rose has made it difficult to keep the news flowing… Highlights include her role debut as Donna Elvira with Welsh National Opera which went swimmingly plus several concerts with Sir Simon Rattle of which Britten’s Spring Symphony is due to be released on CD.
Other CD releases forthcoming include Vaughan Williams 3rd Symphony with the BBC Symphony and Martyn Brabbins and Handel’s Brockes Passion with the Academy of Ancient Music. The latter was only recorded on Good Friday 2019 but is being rush released to celebrate 300 years since its premiere. A new edition was prepared for the recording and you will be treated to a full 16 arias of La Watts!
Of course no summary of the last year would be complete without mention of Liz’s outing on Celebrity University Challenge, with a memorable split second recognition of The Smiths winning her one of many starters for 10. All in a day’s work for a diva…