Review: Britten Sinfonia/Sinfonia Smith Square (The Guardian)

30 April 2025, St George’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Southwark, London

Conducting duties were shared between Nicholas Daniel and Benjamin Nicholas in a sombre and moving programme whose main work was Messiaen’s great memorial to the dead of both world wars

‘Innovative as always, Britten Sinfonia joined forces with Sinfonia Smith Square for a programme of music for wind ensemble by Messiaen and Stravinsky, alongside Stravinsky’s Mass and 20th-century French motets (Poulenc, Duruflé, more Messiaen) sung by the choir of Merton College, Oxford. There were two conductors, Nicholas Daniel for the wind ensemble music, and Benjamin Nicholas (Merton’s director of music) for the a cappella works. Daniel, also the Britten Sinfonia’s principal oboist since its founding in 1992, steps down at the end of the current season, and this was effectively his final concert with the orchestra.

Daniel also gave us a transcription for oboe of Messiaen’s Vocalise-étude, originally a conservatoire test piece for soprano and piano, done with exquisite tone, extraordinary lyrical poise and wonderful depth of feeling.’

Read this review in full at theguardian.com