London Philharmonic Orchestra, Tetzlaff, Vänskä, Royal Festival Hall (Review)
Some symphonies are natural curtain-raisers: Sibelius’ Third is one. Music began with rhythm and in this piece the cellos are the distant drummers who bring us back to basics with their curt opening measures. Osmo Vänskä clipped…
Donizetti’s ‘Belisario’ marches in…
Among Donizetti’s 75 or so operas Belisario has all the credentials to be much more than just a curio. It was written in the wake of Lucia di Lammermoor‘s triumph and represents the composer in full maturity…
A Conversation With LESLEY GARRETT
Saturday 24th November 2012, Howard Assembly Rooms Leeds In conversation with Lesley Garrett. … [Read More]
A Conversation With MAXIM VENGEROV
Sunday 18th November 2012, London Jewish Cultural Centre at Ivy House In conversation with Maxim Vengerov PODCAST AVAILABLE HERE… [Read More]
A Conversation With MARTYN BRABBINS & TOM SCHENK: Vaughan Williams’ ‘A Pilgrim’s Progress’ at ENO
Vaughan Williams’ rapturous “Morality” (his chosen description) of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress comes to English National Opera for its first fully professional staging since its premiere at the Festival of Britain in 1951. It’s a bold…
Will Young at the Kit Kat
It should not be underestimated what Will Young achieves as Emcee in the current West End revival of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret. In a sense the director of the show, Rufus Norris, has greedily capitalised on Young’s…
Three Sisters, the Young Vic, and the extraordinary Benedict Andrews
Three of the best things I have seen in the theatre over the last couple of years have been directed by the same man – Benedict Andrews. The ENO/Young Vic’s extraordinary The Return of Ulysses, the Sydney…
Calendar Girls (and Boys)
In the ever unpredictable world of opera there are those, it has to be said, who wear rather less onstage than they do off but the image below – Dame Felicity Lott enjoying a little fantasy poolside…
London Symphony Orchestra, Petrenko, Barbican Hall (Review)
It should have been Sir Colin Davis, of course (and the news filtering through on Sir Colin is sadly not encouraging), but the very first chord of Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto was a startling demonstration of what makes…
Mozart “Don Giovanni”, English National Opera, London Coliseum (Review)
“Coming Soon”, declares the contentious poster, though even the notion that Don Giovanni would have the time or the inclination to open the packet leave alone use the condom hardly squares with the reckless dash of Mozart…