The Scotsman *****
[Butt] brought an astonishing richness and smoothness to his Dunedin forces’ sound… By the walls of sound in the closing Magnificat, the Vespers felt overwhelming in their grandeur, but there was something to savour in every moment. It is hard to imagine a more exquisite, deeply felt performance.
The Herald *****
This richness and variety shone through in this superbly stylish and joyful performance from Dunedin Consort and His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts directed from the organ by John Butt. The Vespers is a lengthy work, but here delivered with the Consort’s trademark energy, the momentum was never allowed to falter… All told this was an exhilarating performance and it was rapturously received by the capacity audience in St Mary’s.
12th December 2015 – The Scotsman, Ken Walton
FROM Glasgow to Seville, the indefatigable John Butt is putting on four productions of Handel’s Messiah this month, including one aimed at children.
Kate Chisholm on the Spectator:
It’s just not what you expect to hear on Radio 3 but I happened upon Music Matters on Saturday morning and after playing us a clip from the opening chorus of St Matthew Passion Tom Service pronounced, ‘Bach is a tasteless and chaotic composer.’ I felt as if my ears had been syringed.
Service was actually repeating what one of his guests, the Bach scholar John Butt, had just asserted, as if to verify his intention.
You may want to listen to the actual radio programme for context!
