S&C’s classical music commentator Paul Valentine shares his experience of an evening with Weber, Prokofiev and Brahms at Portsmouth Guildhall on 30th March 2023. When I saw the size of tonight’s orchestra and reminisced about [… read more ]
The finest concert Paul Valentine has attended to date is Walton’s Viola Concerto and Second Symphony performed by the LSO and conducted by the late André Previn. Walton was in attendance looking on from the [… read more ]
S&C‘s classical music critic Paul Valentine was impressed by a recent performance of Scriabin, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) at Portsmouth Guildhall. This programme, directed by Alexander Shelley, establishes the BSO [… read more ]
Like many other art forms, classical music was forced off the stage by Covid-19. Paul Valentine was all the more thrilled to be able to get out and see the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s performances of [… read more ]
We are thrilled to announce that we have appointed two Literary Editors to the team, Prof Sue Harper and long-time contributor to the site, Paul Valentine. Sue and Paul are keen to read work submitted [… read more ]
S&C reporter Paul Valentine takes a look at the case of Julian Assange, and asks what the strange circumstances of his ongoing extradition hearing means for our democracy, and future freedom of the press. The [… read more ]
S&C‘s Paul Valentine finds much to appreciate in Portsmouth poet Sue Spier’s new book of haikus. Like many, I have tried haiku and then left its comforting warmth. But I have a tremendous respect both [… read more ]
S&C Arts Correspondent Paul Valentine is impressed by a funny, irreverent, macabre and inventive new book of short stories by Sue Harper, local author and Portsmouth University Emeritus Professor of Film History. If you thought [… read more ]
S&C regular Paul Valentine meditates on the rejuvenating effects of visiting ‘the highest attraction in Europe’. I am in the Void. Above me pure azure sky. Below, nothing for thousands of metres and then virgin [… read more ]
Paul Valentine reviews the recent opening night performance of Latin Fiesta, conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto, with piano by Gabriela Montero and Mezzo-Soprano by Rihab Chaieb. From the outset, Prieto’s mastery and management of the orchestra was perfect. The [… read more ]
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