If premiers scored bonus points for an unconventional venue and the ability to enthuse an audience to stay awake and participate on a Sunday evening then Cameron Sinclair’s double premiere deserves membership to this year’s pick of the bunch. Britten Sinfonia and Harlow Chorus took to the styage, well court actually since the venue was a sports centre in Essex. Following some escellent Stravinsky, first up on the premiere front was Syzygy (meaning a pair of connected things), an education project led by Sinclair exploring rhythms influenced by Sufi music. Some 130 local schoolchildren took part: instrumentalists, choral forces (even the audience had to exercise their vocal chords) and energetic children dancing in the aisles – truly captivating. The finale to the evening was say i am you. Under the fervent arm of Sarah Tenant-Flowers, the energy of the words drove the music forward to an electric climax. The vibe was buzzing, the guests replete; an evening of Syzygy was complete.

Elizabeth Rhodes
Classical Music