PrettyInScarlett

Am impromptu decision on a rainy week night resulting in a really interesting evening. The MUSICON series promoted by Durham University Music Department runs an (annual?) festival of East Asian Music, with this year's three events focusing on the music of China, Korea and Japan respectively. I have attended a few concerts of Chinese/Taiwanese origin music and have always enjoyed them; however I don't recall having attended any Korean musical events. This evening's musical journey , held in the Oriental Museum , predominantly featured new compositions by composer Yoon Hyelin - including 2 world premieres! The assembled musicians work towards the concept of 'haal', described in the programme as the 'exclamation made at the moment of realisation or awakening among Buddhist monks'. Throughout the programme the basis of most pieces was an idea of transcending the everyday and moving towards a state of relaxed consciousness. Mixing between vocal and ins

The start of the summer season and Auckland Castle is open for visits, including the annual season of concerts organised and promoted by Bishop Auckland Music Society , the latest of which was held on Friday 16th May. A short drive along the scenic route took us to a very full Throne Room in the castle for a recital by rising star Alexandra Dariescu on piano. The programme, complete with short introductions from Alexandra, was themed around the development of the prelude through the ages. The first half of the concert started with the extremes of Bach and Shostakovich to set the tone: Bach's Prelude and Fugue in B minor (Well Tempered Clavier Book 2 No. 24) followed by a selection from Shostakovich's Preludes Op. 24 - I particularly enjoyed Nos 3 and 6 - 6 in particular a somewhat witty representation of a pub band. Subsequent to this the audience was treated to a wonderfully beautiful performance of Scarlatti's Sonata in F minor, K 466 - a soft sobbing lament; and a